Apple appears to be opting for a clever hack to make the displays on the upcoming iPhone Fold and the iPhone Air 2 both thinner and brighter at the same time, unlocking a whole new tier of display-based efficiency.
Apple to use Samsung’s Color Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) OLED tech for the upcoming iPhone Fold and the iPhone Air 2
According to The Elec, Apple is opting for Samsung’s Color Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) OLED tech for the displays on the iPhone Fold and the iPhone Air 2, which would render those displays lighter and much more efficient.
Typically, OLED panels retain a polarizing film over the display to reduce glare and improve contrast. However, this film also absorbs some of the OLED panel’s light, reducing its efficiency in the process. With the CoE, Apple would eschew this polarizing film entirely, opting to apply a color filter onto the OLED panel’s protective encapsulation layer, rendering the resulting displays lighter and much more efficient.
Do note that Apple is likely to launch the iPhone Fold alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in the third quarter of 2026, by which time the Cupertino giant is expected to make a final decision whether to launch the iPhone Air 2 alongside the base iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e in Q1 2027, according to the South Korean publication.
After all, as per a separate tidbit, Apple is reportedly still undecided whether to launch the iPhone Air 2, replete with a dual-camera setup and a lower retail price, in the fall of 2026 or 2027. As such, our readers should not take persistent reports of a spring 2027 launch for the ultra-slim iPhone as set in stone.
Meanwhile, the iPhone Fold’s star attraction is its seemingly crease-free display, with Samsung showcasing one such panel at the just-concluded CES 2026. While Apple was previously said to have run into issues with various iterations of the Ultra-thin Flexible Glass (UFG) tech that it was testing to achieve a crease-free look, Samsung’s approach is reportedly quite simple: a laser-perforated metal plate sits just beneath the foldable OLED panel, with the perforations within the plate serving to distribute the overall pressure in a slightly different manner each time the display is folded. This prevents a concentration of pressure along the hinge, nearly eliminating the dreaded crease in the process.
Elsewhere, the iPhone Fold is expected to feature a passport-style, wide form factor, with its primary panel measuring ~7.7 inches, and the cover display measuring ~5.4 inches.
A dedicated vapor chamber.
A 2,713 x 1,920 resolution, with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Side-mounted Touch ID instead of Face ID.
A20 Pro SoC, a 12GB RAM, in-house C2 5G modem.
A 48MP resolution for the rear dual-camera setup.
An in-display camera with a resolution of up to 24MP.
A battery with a capacity of 5,400-5,800mAh.
An H2 2026 launch.
To launch as an eSIM-only variant.
Projected price of around $2,399.
Expected shipments in the first year to vary between 7 million and 9 million units.
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