Apple's iPad Air is expected to receive its biggest design overhaul since 2020, with an OLED display and an M5 chip reportedly arriving in early 2027, according to Mac Rumours, as reported by The Hindu BusinessLine. The update would end the longest-running external design in Apple's current tablet lineup.
OLED display and M5 chip expected in early 2027
Mac Rumours reported that Apple is expected to introduce an OLED display to the iPad Air in early 2027, with Samsung Display reportedly supplying single-stack LTPS OLED panels. These panels are expected to sit below the tandem OLED technology used in the iPad Pro in terms of cost and brightness. The device is also rumoured to feature Apple's M5 chip.
The OLED transition would mark the most significant upgrade for the iPad Air in years, according to the report, and forms part of Apple's broader plan to expand OLED technology across more products, including the iMac and MacBook Air.
Design freeze since 2020
According to Mac Rumours, the iPad Air has retained the same external design since 2020, making it the longest-running design in Apple's current tablet lineup. Apple last refreshed the device's enclosure with the fourth-generation iPad Air, introducing flat edges, an all-screen display and Touch ID integrated into the top button. Since then, updates featuring the M1, M2, M3 and M4 chips have focused entirely on internal hardware without altering the device's appearance.
The reported OLED transition follows Apple's recent approach to major display upgrades, the source noted. When the iPad Pro adopted OLED technology in 2024, Apple introduced the product's first complete redesign since 2018, including a substantially thinner chassis.
| Product & year | Reported change |
|---|---|
| iPad Air 4th gen (2020) | Flat edges, all-screen display, Touch ID in top button |
| iPad Air updates (M1–M4) | Internal chip upgrades only; no exterior change |
| iPad Pro (2024) | OLED display; first complete redesign since 2018; thinner chassis |
| iPad mini 8 (expected October) | Redesigned chassis, OLED, vibration-based speaker, water-resistant casing |
| iPad Air (expected early 2027) | OLED display from Samsung Display; M5 chip; possible redesign |
iPad mini 8 previews possible design direction
Another product that could signal the direction of Apple's tablet design is the upcoming iPad mini 8, according to Mac Rumours. The device is expected by October with a redesigned chassis, an OLED display, a vibration-based speaker system that removes traditional speaker holes, and a water-resistant casing, features that would be firsts for the iPad lineup.
The iPad Air and iPad mini have shared a common design language for several years: the iPad mini adopted the iPad Air's design in 2021 and has retained that look through the iPad mini 7. Mac Rumours said that if the iPad mini receives a new enclosure this year, the iPad Air could be the next model to adopt a similar design, much like the original iPad mini influenced the first iPad Air.
No confirmation yet on 2027 redesign
However, there are currently no specific rumours confirming an iPad Air redesign in 2027, according to the report. If Apple follows the expected design direction of the next-generation iPad mini, the iPad Air could also gain features such as a vibration-based speaker system and water resistance alongside its expected OLED display.
The report was published on August 1, 2026 by The Hindu BusinessLine via ANI.
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