Au revoir, LED
Disregarding the size, the iPad Air and iPad mini offer comparable Liquid Retina (LED) screens. With both models, you get the same maximum brightness, wide color P3 gamut, True Tone support, Apple Pencil compatibility, antireflective coating, etc. The iPad mini does come with a slightly higher pixel density of 326 ppi (compared to the Air’s 264 ppi) due to its smaller size, but that’s about it.
The M4 iPad Pro was the first Apple tablet to adopt an OLED panel, unlocking true blacks and crisper colors. After two years of exclusivity, OLED is finally rumored to expand to another iPad. Based on Apple’s pattern, one would assume that would be the iPad Air, but somewhat surprisingly, it’s reportedly coming to the mini first.
The iPad mini will reportedly be Apple’s first non-Pro tablet to switch to OLED. Having actively used both an LED iPad Air and an OLED iPad Pro, let me tell you that it’s not just an iterative bump on a spec sheet. The difference in image quality is night and day. Colors are richer, blacks are deeper, and HDR content shines.
To be fair, the iPad mini reportedly won’t be receiving the same tandem OLED technology found in the iPad Pro, but the upgrade will undoubtedly enhance consumed digital content. Even with a smaller display the iPad mini will essentially leapfrog the Air for movies and photo editing.
The iPad Pro might not be Apple’s only tablet with an OLED display.
Britta O’Boyle
Putting the IP in iPad
iPads have never had an water-resistance rating, making them susceptible to liquid damage and more worrisome when traveling to a beach or using one to relax while taking a bath. The next iPad mini will be the first model with an official water resistance certification, widely expanding its use case possibilities.
On rainy days, for example, you won’t hesitate to take it out with you. You’ll similarly feel more comfortable using it in the kitchen while cooking, on the beach, or in the bathtub. This will make it infinitely more practical for on-the-go reading sessions, viewing recipes, and consuming media while soaking—and set it apart from even the iPad Pro. Add in its inherent portability, and it’s a more intriguing option than the Air.
