Apple moves incredible volumes of its mobile devices. Being a part of its supply chain is thus a lucrative opportunity for component manufacturers, as it secures them a big order that's worth a lot of money.
Samsung has remained a major part of Apple's supply chain, providing it with various components, with OLED displays likely fetching it the most amount of money from its rival. Turns out, Samsung may soon be supplying OLED panels for another of Apple's products.
OLED iPad mini may be launched in 2026
It was first rumored back in late 2023 that the Cupertino company will launch an iPad mini with an OLED display in 2026. It was claimed that this iPad would have an 8.7-inch OLED screen. Apple doesn't comment on rumors so since then there has been no official communication on the matter, so it remains a guessing game.
A new rumor out of China claims that testing has begun on a new iPad mini that allegedly features a Samsung OLED panel. No further information is available at this stage, not even about the size of the panel, but one would assume it would be a nice bump up from the existing model.
Samsung is far from the only supplier in Apple's OLED supply chain but it does have some advantages over the competition. The company's technological superiority and higher production capacity make it almost impossible for Apple to ignore Samsung when it's out in the market looking for OLED panels.
Apple's OLED iPad mini is expected to enter mass production in the second half of this year, potentially launching either in late 2025 or early 2026, around the same time as rumored way back in 2023.