Apple could give the iPad Air its biggest visual overhaul in years during early 2027. Reports also point to an OLED display and a possible M5 chip. The tablet has largely kept the same design language since the fourth-generation iPad Air arrived in 2020. That model introduced flat edges, an all-screen front and Touch ID inside the top button. Read More: Apple Launches AirPods Max 2 After 5 Years at $549 Apple later added M1, M2, M3 and M4 processors without replacing that basic enclosure. The M2 generation brought an additional 13-inch size and moved the front camera to the landscape edge. However, the familiar flat-sided appearance remained. Apple launched the current iPad Air with the M4 chip in March 2026. It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch versions and still uses an LCD panel. Apple has not announced its successor or confirmed any 2027 redesign. OLED Display Could Lead the Upgrade Supply-chain reports suggest that Apple plans to launch an OLED iPad Air in early 2027. Samsung Display will reportedly supply single-stack LTPS OLED panels for the device. This technology should cost less than the tandem OLED system inside the iPad Pro. It may also offer lower peak brightness. Even so, OLED could deliver deeper blacks, stronger contrast and more precise control over individual pixels. Reports also link the next iPad Air with Apple’s M5 chip. Apple has not confirmed that processor choice. The OLED move would form part of a wider display transition across Apple’s products. Industry reports also connect future OLED panels with the iPad mini, iMac and MacBook Air. Apple followed a similar strategy with the iPad Pro in 2024. The company paired its OLED display with the product’s first major redesign since 2018. That update produced a much thinner chassis and introduced the Ultra Retina XDR display. iPad Mini 8 May Reveal Apple’s Design Direction The next iPad mini could offer an early look at Apple’s plans for the iPad Air. Reports suggest Apple may launch the iPad mini 8 by October 2026. Rumoured upgrades include a redesigned enclosure, an OLED display and better water resistance. Apple may also use a vibration-based speaker system. That system would remove traditional speaker holes and help create a more sealed body. The iPad mini adopted the iPad Air’s flat-edged design in 2021. Apple kept that styling for the iPad mini 7. The two tablets have therefore shared a similar visual identity for several years. Read More: Apple Makes Massive $30 Billion Bet on US-Made Chips With Broadcom A redesigned iPad mini could influence the next iPad Air, just as earlier models borrowed ideas across both product lines. The Air could eventually gain water resistance or the new speaker system alongside OLED. However, no detailed report currently confirms a redesigned iPad Air enclosure for 2027. The OLED upgrade has stronger supply-chain support, while the broader design changes remain informed speculation.