Apple’s 2026 Tablet Roadmap: OLED Expansion and Professional Software Shifts
Apple is aggressively positioning its iPad lineup for a significant evolution in 2026, targeting both hardware fidelity and professional-grade software capabilities. As the tech giant prepares to dominate the global supply of hybrid OLED panels, the software ecosystem is simultaneously undergoing a major transition with the imminent release of Pixelmator Pro for iPad. These moves signal a unified push to solidify the tablet’s status as a high-end creative workstation.
The OLED Shift and iPad Mini 7
Industry analysts at DSCC project that Apple will account for the vast majority of hybrid OLED display orders over the next few years, a dominance largely driven by the expansion of the technology across the iPad franchise. By 2027, Apple’s share of these orders is expected to hit 90%. While the high-end iPad Pro series has already set a new standard with dual-stack tandem OLED panels—allowing for some of the thinnest chassis designs in history—the technology is finally trickling down to the smaller form factors.
Supply chain sources indicate that the next major hardware refresh will be the iPad Mini 7. The upcoming model is slated to ditch the traditional LCD screen for a hybrid OLED display. This upgrade will likely feature a slight increase in screen real estate, moving from the current 8.3-inch diagonal to an 8.4-inch panel. This expansion is expected to be achieved through reduced bezels, mirroring the design language seen in the iPhone 16 series.
However, the iPad Mini’s display will differ technically from its Pro siblings. To manage costs, the Mini will utilize a single-stack OLED screen rather than the expensive dual-stack tandem technology found in the Pro models and automotive applications like Mercedes’ Hyperscreen. While tandem OLEDs offer superior brightness and longevity—crucial for devices held for many years—Apple views the single-stack hybrid solution as the optimal trade-off for the Mini. Importantly, Apple continues to mandate the use of glass substrates rather than plastic to prevent the “wavy” texture often associated with flexible OLEDs, ensuring the device retains a premium feel.
While the iPad Mini is on track for a 2026 release with this new display technology, details regarding an OLED update for the iPad Air remain scarce.
Pixelmator Pro Replaces the Classic Era
Parallel to these hardware advancements, the software landscape on iPad is about to change drastically. After years of anticipation, the official release date for Pixelmator Pro on iPad has been set for January 28, 2026. This launch marks a pivotal moment for mobile photo editing, bringing the desktop-class power familiar to Mac users directly to the tablet interface.
With this new era comes the end of another. The developers have confirmed that Pixelmator Classic will be sunsetted. Once the Pro version hits the App Store, the legacy app will no longer receive updates, bug fixes, or performance patches. This decision stems from the need to leverage modern architecture; the aging code of Pixelmator Classic simply cannot take full advantage of the neural engines and graphics capabilities inherent in Apple’s latest silicon.
Stringent Hardware Requirements
The shift to Pixelmator Pro brings strict system requirements that may force some users to upgrade their hardware. The application demands high-performance computing power to handle advanced algorithms, reduced latency for the Apple Pencil, and integration with Apple Creator Studio.
To run the new software, users will need a device equipped with at least an A16 or A17 Pro chip, or any M-series Apple Silicon chip. Furthermore, the device must be running iPadOS 26 or later. Consequently, older iPads predating the A16 generation will be incompatible with this professional suite. This cutoff underscores a broader trend in the ecosystem: as software capabilities regarding AI and real-time rendering expand, the gap between consumer-grade and pro-grade hardware requirements is widening.