Apple has gradually been upgrading the displays on its popular iPad tablets to OLED, with assistance from Samsung Display, which happens to be the world's leading supplier of OLED panels.

The Cupertino-based outfit is expected to launch its first OLED iPad Air in 2027 with Samsung Display expected to be a major supplier.

Apple currently offers two iPad Pro models with OLED panels and one iPad mini with OLED. It's now expected to offer an 11-inch and 13-inch OLED iPad Air by the first half of next year. Analysts expect that the company could ship between 4 to 5 million units of the OLED iPad Air in 2027.

Samsung Display is reportedly a major supplier of these OLED panels. It may account for the majority of iPad Air OLED display volume next year. LG Display will mainly supply panels for the OLED iPad Pro while China's BOE will supply OLED panels for one of the two new iPad Air models.

The more OLED iPads that Apple sells, the better it is for Samsung, since its display subsidiary can sell that many more panels to the company. Apple has not officially confirmed any panels for an OLED iPad Air as yet, but that's to be expected, as the company prefers keeping its cards close to its chest.