The upcoming iPad Air is expected to receive 'Pro' treatment with new display technology for the bigger 12.9-inch variant. Up until now, the iPad Air lineup has used LCD panels, which are great considering Apple's high-quality standards, but they are no match compared to a mini-LED display. We now have information on the iPad Air 6 receiving mini-LED treatment this year, which will bring it much closer to the iPad Pro lineup.
12.9-Inch iPad Air to launch with mini-LED display, as Apple aims to utilize the leftovers
Before today, the iPad Air was expected to come with only a handful of improvements on the inside, as Apple aims to upgrade the processor and connectivity of the device. The most awaited addition this time around was the bigger 12.9-inch variant, but the general design language and feature set of the device were the same as the smaller version. Ross Young from DSCC, a prominent display analyst with a solid track record states in a post on X that Apple will surprise users with a mini-LED display on the iPad Air.
However, Ross Young has stated that the upgraded display technology will only be available on the bigger 12.9-inch variant of the iPad Air, as Apple wants to utilize the remnants from the iPad Pro lineup. Since the 11-inch iPad Pro houses an LCD panel as well, it is unlikely that the smaller iPad Air will feature the upgraded display technology. This will create a wider gap between the iPad Air models, the same gap that Apple flaunts on the current iPad Pro models.
The upcoming iPad Air could cost more than the current models as well, possibly closer to the iPad Pro due to the upgraded mini-LED display, but given these are leftovers and waste for Apple, it could offer the device with competitive pricing. Users can still opt to buy the iPad Pro from third-party sellers at a discount, which brings the price down to the level of the iPad Air, but you might miss out on some perks.
Ross Young also mentions that the mini-LED panel on the iPad Air will be less power-hungry compared to the LCD panels, which could result in improved battery life compared to the current models. The mini-LED display, on the other hand, is greatly superior to the LCD panels as it features a higher contrast ratio, deeper blacks, and it is much brighter than a backlit panel. However, it is also more expensive, and it remains to be seen how the company positions the device against the LCD model. The iPad Air could prove to be a success if Apple keeps the price at bay, as the device targets the comparatively budget segment in the lineup.
On the flip side, both iPad Pro models are expected to house OLED displays, a switch from mini-LED that has been in the rumor mill for a while as the devices have seen various delays. So far, we are expecting the iPad Pro and Air models to be released in May, less than a month before the company's WWDC 2024 event. This also poses the question of whether the devices will see another delay or if the company will announce the new iPads at its developers' conference.
