Apple’s next iPad mini could make the iPad Air a much harder tablet to recommend. With an OLED display, a potentially more powerful processor, improved water resistance, and a compact design, Apple’s smallest tablet is rumored to be getting the kind of upgrade that could turn the entire iPad lineup upside down.

In an October 23 feature, Macworld’s Mahmoud Itani argues that the upcoming iPad mini could become the most compelling option for most tablet buyers, leaving little reason to choose the iPad Air. It is a provocative argument, but one that deserves consideration as Apple prepares for its October 28 “Pro and Tell” media event.

The key question is whether the iPad Air still makes sense as the middle child of Apple’s tablet family when the smaller iPad mini could offer more advanced technology at a similar price.

The iPad mini could get the upgrade the Air needs

The biggest rumored change to the next iPad mini is its display. Apple is expected to replace the current model’s LCD panel with OLED technology, which would bring deeper blacks, richer contrast, and more vibrant colors to the smaller tablet.

That would be a significant upgrade for a device designed around reading, watching videos, browsing the web, and playing games. OLED could also give the iPad mini a display advantage over the iPad Air, which continues to use an LCD panel.

According to Macworld, the next iPad mini could also feature improved water resistance, a more powerful chip, and other refinements that would make it a more capable everyday companion. These features remain rumors, however, and Apple has yet to officially announce the device.

The timing is particularly interesting. The current iPad mini launched in October 2024 with an A17 Pro chip and an 8.3-inch LCD display. The next model is expected to deliver a more substantial upgrade than a routine processor refresh.

If these reports prove accurate, the iPad mini could receive meaningful improvements to its display, performance, and durability before the iPad Air gets a comparable transformation.

The iPad Air has a price problem

The iPad Air has traditionally occupied a comfortable position in Apple’s lineup. It offers a larger screen and an M-series processor without the premium pricing of the iPad Pro, making it an attractive option for students, professionals, and anyone who wants more than an entry-level tablet.

But recent price increases have made that middle-ground position less appealing.

Macworld points out that the current iPad mini starts at $599, while the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $749. Those prices put the two tablets close enough that buyers have to consider more than screen size when deciding which one offers better value.

The rumored iPad mini could complicate that decision further. Reports point to an A20 Pro chip, an OLED display, and improved water resistance, although the final specifications remain unconfirmed. Macworld suggests the next model could cost as much as $799, which would put it above the current iPad Air.

At that price, the iPad mini would no longer be the obvious budget-friendly alternative. Instead, buyers would be choosing between a smaller tablet with potentially more advanced technology and a larger tablet with an LCD screen.

That is a much more interesting dilemma than the usual choice between portability and screen size.

A smaller tablet will not replace a larger screen

There is one major problem with the argument that the iPad Air could become unnecessary: display size matters.

An 8.3-inch or similarly sized iPad mini is easier to carry, hold, and use while traveling. It is also better suited to reading on the go and using a tablet in situations where a larger device feels cumbersome.

But the iPad Air’s larger display remains valuable for multitasking, editing documents, working with spreadsheets, drawing, and using creative applications. A faster processor and a better display cannot compensate for having less screen real estate when the task itself benefits from a larger workspace.

The iPad Air also uses Apple’s M-series processors, which are designed for a different performance tier than the A-series chips found in iPhones and the iPad mini. Even if the rumored A20 Pro proves exceptionally capable, its real-world advantages over the Air would depend on the applications and workloads involved.

For casual use, the distinction might matter very little. For people who rely on demanding creative software or use their iPads as work devices, the choice could be more complicated.

That is why the iPad Air’s future should not be judged solely by which tablet has the better specification sheet. Its purpose is to offer a larger, more capable workspace at a lower price than the iPad Pro.

Apple needs to give the iPad Air a clearer identity

The bigger issue is Apple’s product strategy.

The iPad lineup has several models, but their purposes can overlap. The entry-level iPad serves buyers who want an affordable tablet. The iPad mini prioritizes portability. The iPad Air targets people who want a larger screen and stronger performance. The iPad Pro sits at the top with premium hardware and features.

That structure works when each model has a clear advantage.

An OLED iPad mini with a high-end processor and improved durability could blur the boundaries between the mini and Air. If Apple also increases the mini’s price, it could push the smaller tablet into a category where buyers expect premium features rather than a compromise built around portability.

Apple would then have two options: give the iPad Air a more meaningful upgrade or reconsider how it fits into the lineup.

An OLED display would be an obvious place to start. A future iPad Air with OLED could restore a visual advantage, while a stronger focus on multitasking, accessories, or other productivity features could help distinguish it from the mini.

There is some reason to believe Apple has not abandoned that possibility. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has previously reported that Apple is working toward bringing OLED technology to the iPad Air as well, although the timing remains uncertain. The company could therefore be preparing a broader transition rather than leaving the Air permanently behind.

The iPad Air does not need to disappear—just become worth buying

Macworld‘s argument that the iPad Air may no longer need to exist is understandable if the next iPad mini delivers everything the rumors promise. A smaller tablet with a superior display, strong performance, and better durability could be an appealing package for a wide range of buyers.

But eliminating the Air would leave a substantial gap between the entry-level iPad and the iPad Pro. Not everyone wants an 8-inch-class tablet, and not everyone needs or can justify a Pro model.

The more plausible challenge for Apple is to make the iPad Air feel like a deliberate choice rather than an awkward compromise.

If the next iPad mini arrives with OLED and the rumored upgrades, Apple will have to explain why buyers should spend their money on a larger Air instead. Screen size alone may be enough for some people, but it becomes a harder sell when the smaller model potentially offers newer technology for a similar price.

Apple has not announced the next iPad mini or confirmed the rumored specifications, so the Air’s future is far from settled. Still, the upcoming refresh could expose a problem that has been building in the iPad lineup: when Apple’s middle-tier tablet no longer feels like the best balance of price and features, the company needs to give buyers a better reason to choose it.

The iPad Air probably does not need to die. But it may need to prove that it deserves its place.