Apple’s M5 iPad Pro, unveiled last month, offers important clues about the new iPad series, while expectations for next year continue to rise. 2026 could be the year Apple makes significant innovations across all tablet segments. Here are the most prominent leaks for the iPad Air, budget iPad, and iPad mini…

M4 iPad Air, OLED iPad mini with A19 Pro Coming!

The first major iPad launch of 2026 will likely be the new iPad Air. This model will switch to the M4 chip, which will offer a 10-20% performance boost compared to the M3 chip. With the introduction of the N1 chip and C1X modem introduced in the M5 iPad Pro, the new iPad Air is also expected to switch to Apple’s own modem and network chips. This will mean faster cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi 7 support.

In addition to the chip, unconfirmed but plausible upgrades could include a 600-nit brightness display (currently exclusive to the 13-inch model), new color options, and a 90 or 120Hz refresh rate (ProMotion) display. While an OLED display has been rumored for the iPad Air, this technology likely won’t arrive on the Air until 2027 or later.

The budget iPad, typically priced at $349 (and frequently dropping to $299), is expected to gain the A18 chip in the first half of 2026. This wouldn’t just be a spec bump; it would also bring Apple Intelligence capabilities to the budget iPad for the first time. Similar to the iPad Air, the budget iPad is likely to use Apple’s in-house developed N1 chip and C1X modems.

Because the current Magic Keyboard Folio only allows desktop use with a kickstand, users are eager to see a proper keyboard accessory, more similar to the Magic Keyboard on the iPad Air/Pro.

Finally, the iPad mini is expected to receive its first refresh since 2024. This upgrade will likely bring the A19 Pro chip, but a much larger upgrade is on the way. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has focused this major technology transition on the iPad mini as its next major product. After bringing OLED to the iPhone in 2017, Apple integrated it into the iPad Pro with the M4 model in early 2024.

In addition to OLED and the A19 Pro chip, the new iPad mini is expected to feature a more water-resistant design, according to a Bloomberg report. This significant upgrade is expected later in the year. The iPad mini hasn’t seen a major overhaul since 2021; these rumors suggest Apple has big plans for the fifth anniversary of the first redesign.