Ever since Apple introduced the new design language with the fourth-generation model back in 2020, the iPad Air has not changed its enclosure. Six generations and four internal upgrades later, the mid-range tablet still looks exactly the same, making it the longest-running aesthetic in the entire iPad lineup. However, rumors pointing to an OLED display and the M5 chip early next year could finally break this long stagnant streak. Analysts now believe that 2027 is the right time for a complete makeover, especially given what is happening elsewhere at Apple.
Keeping the same design since 2020 is an exception in the industry
When the fourth-generation iPad Air hit the market, its flat sides, edge-to-edge screen and Touch ID built into the top button represented a major leap forward compared to the past. Since then, the M1, M2, M3 and M4 chips have followed one another without the exterior being touched at all. This strategy kept production costs down and the assembly line stable, but it now looks out of step with how the sector is evolving. Competitors, such as Samsung with its foldable devices, are pushing hard on new materials and innovative shapes. For more on that, our article about Samsung's rumored fifth Galaxy Z paints a clear picture of how manufacturers are rethinking portable devices.
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OLED and the M5 chip lay the groundwork for a new iPad Air
Industry sources indicate that Apple is preparing a major upgrade for the iPad Air, expected in the early part of 2027. The display will move to OLED technology, with single-stack LTPS panels supplied by Samsung Display. This solution will sit below the tandem OLED used on the iPad Pro in both cost and brightness, but it will still represent a significant improvement over the current LCD screens. In addition, the new tablet is said to be powered by the M5 chip, promising higher performance and better energy efficiency. Together, these two elements form the biggest evolution the product has seen in years, making a complete redesign of the chassis a real possibility. Apple has already shown how to pair a technological leap with a fresh look when it launched the OLED iPad Pro in 2024, its first redesign since 2018, featuring a substantially thinner body.
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The iPad mini 8 could foreshadow Apple's new aesthetic direction
Another clue comes from the iPad mini, which has always shared its design language with the iPad Air. The mini adopted the Air's look in 2021 and has kept it through the seventh generation. Now, the iPad mini 8 is rumored to launch in October with a completely new enclosure, an OLED display, a vibration-based speaker system that eliminates speaker holes and a water-resistant casing, a first for any iPad. If these reports prove accurate, the iPad Air would be the natural candidate to inherit the same design the following year. This has happened before when the 2012 mini set the design standard that the first Air followed in 2013. Apple's upcoming iPhone design choices could also influence the tablet lineup, as we explore in our piece about the future iPhone 20.
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What the iPad Air might inherit from the new mini
If Apple follows the same logic as with the iPad mini, the future iPad Air could gain the vibration-based audio system, removing speaker holes from the body for a cleaner look. It might also receive water resistance, a feature never seen on an Apple tablet before. There are no specific rumors about an Air redesign yet, but the evolution of the lineup and the product renewal cycles make such a move plausible. Apple has accustomed users to a two-year design cycle for its high-end gear, and with OLED arriving in 2027, the idea of a completely new iPad Air is becoming more and more concrete. For those who want to dig deeper into the history and specs of the device, the Wikipedia page for the iPad Air is a solid resource.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/31/ipad-air-could-be-redesigned-next-year
