Apple’s iPad lineup is headed for its next wave of upgrades in early 2027. While the iPad mini already moved to OLED this October, the remaining models—entry-level iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro—are expected to follow soon, possibly in the first half of 2027.
What to Expect from Each Model
- Entry-level iPad: The next Apple-upgraded base model is due early next year, likely in the first half. Features aren’t confirmed yet, but industry chatter suggests it will get some of the upgrades already rumored for higher-end models.
- iPad Mini: Already refreshed to OLED in October, though rumors point to further enhancements still on tap for the model.
- iPad Air: Slated for a refresh in spring 2027, the Air is expected to get hardware updates—potentially including display and performance improvements to stay competitive against its higher-end siblings and Android rivals.
- iPad Pro: Likely the most substantial upgrade. Expected to gain Apple’s next chip, the M6, and ditch the current thermal design in favor of a vapor-chamber cooling system. This should help performance under heavy workloads like gaming and AI tasks.
Timing & Prior Reports
Bloomberg sources say that Apple plans to roll out these updates in the first half of 2027. While the iPad mini already saw its OLED transition in October 2026, the rest of the lineup is likely to be announced across several refresh cycles in spring 2027. This aligns with earlier reporting that also projected April-to-June refreshes for multiple models. Past leaks had also suggested the entry-level iPad would be updated in Q1 2027.
Additional expected changes include significant thermal improvements for the iPad Pro, which has been criticized for throttling under load. Vapor-chamber cooling is being cited as Apple’s answer to this issue. Speculation about the iPad Air and entry-level models centers mostly around modest display and performance upgrades rather than radical redesigns.
None of these projections have been confirmed officially by Apple, and of course, release timing is always subject to delay. But as of late 2026, this roadmap matches what several reliable sources have been saying all year.
What This Means
For anyone sitting on an older iPad—especially a Pro model—it might be wise to hang on a bit longer. The coming updates show Apple pushing display tech and thermal design forward, which will raise the bar in performance, especially for professionals and power users. If you’re buying now, prioritize getting a model with solid display tech and efficient cooling, especially as AI workloads become more standard. It’s worth keeping an eye on spring 2027 announcements.
