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With the iPhone Fold, Apple is on the verge of a major technological leap. The first foldable iPhone is intended not only as a new form factor experiment, but also as a testbed for a display technology that could later be rolled out to other devices. The focus is on an OLED panel that is brighter, more efficient, and significantly thinner than previous solutions.
Display technologies typically evolve gradually. Major leaps often occur first in niche products. The iPhone Fold occupies precisely this role. According to recent industry reports, Apple is using a new OLED design from Samsung for the first time, which could also influence the iPhone Air 2 in the long term.
CoE technology first used in the iPhone Fold
According to the Korean trade magazine The Elec, the iPhone Fold will be the first Apple device to use a special OLED technology called CoE. CoE stands for Color Filter on Encapsulation and was developed by Samsung.
The design differs significantly from conventional OLED panels. Normally, a polarizing film is placed over the display. This reduces reflections and improves contrast, but simultaneously blocks some of the generated light. This results in lower brightness and reduced energy efficiency.
Elimination of the polarizer as a key advantage
In the CoE design, this polarization layer is completely eliminated. Instead, the color filter is applied directly to the protective layer of the OLED panel. This allows more light to pass through without increasing power consumption.
The result is a brighter display with the same or even better efficiency. At the same time, the panel becomes thinner because several layers are eliminated. This is a crucial point, especially for the iPhone Fold, as foldable devices particularly benefit from the slimmest possible display design.
Impact on design and equipment construction
A thinner OLED panel doesn't just offer advantages when folding. The entire casing can also be slimmer. For Apple, this opens up new design possibilities for future iPhones. Fewer display layers also reduce weight and can lessen the mechanical stress during folding.
Perspective for the iPhone Air 2
According to The Elec, Apple plans to initially use the CoE technology exclusively in the iPhone Fold. The foldable iPhone could be released as early as the end of 2026. The technology is then expected to be rolled out to the iPhone Air 2 in 2027.
The future of the iPhone Air 2 remains uncertain. Reports indicate that the launch has been postponed because the original iPhone Air sold worse than expected. Industry sources predict that Apple will decide by the third quarter of this year whether the Center of Excellence (CoE) will actually be used and whether the iPhone Air 2 will be released at all.
Samsung is simultaneously advancing CoE
While Apple is initially testing the technology cautiously, Samsung is planning a broader rollout. CoE is not only intended for use in the foldable Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip models. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, expected in the first quarter of this year, will also be the first non-folding smartphone to benefit from this technology. Internally, Samsung refers to the process as OCF, or On-Cell Film.
iPhone Fold as the basis for future display generations
The iPhone Fold is more than just a new product segment for Apple. It serves as the technological foundation for future iPhones and could ultimately change the company's display strategy. The introduction of CoE technology promises brighter displays, a thinner profile, and improved efficiency. Should Apple later implement this technology in the iPhone Air 2, it would be clear that the iPhone Fold has paved the way for a new generation of iPhone displays. (Image: Shutterstock / Wongsakorn 2468)
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