Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone: Brighter, Thinner Display with Samsung's OLED Tech
For the iPhone's 20th anniversary, Apple is said to be considering a significant display upgrade. We're talking about a shift to a Samsung-made OLED tech known as COE (Color Filter on Encapsulation). Apparently, this could make the screen brighter and thinner than what we've seen before. The goal is to boost display performance without sacrificing battery life. Imagine getting a more vibrant screen without your battery draining faster!
In standard OLED screens, there's usually a polarizing film on top to reduce reflections and make the picture look better. However, this film also blocks some of the light from the OLED itself, which makes the display less bright and efficient. With COE, Apple might ditch the polarizing film altogether. Instead, the color filter would be applied directly to the layer that protects the OLED. I think it's a clever way to get around the limitations of current technology.
What does this mean for you? A thinner display that lets more light through, resulting in a brighter screen without needing more power. Also, because they're removing layers, the phone itself could be slimmer. Who wouldn't want a sleeker iPhone? However, there's a catch. Without that polarizing film, controlling reflections and glare becomes more difficult. Apple will probably need to use special coatings and materials at the pixel level to make sure you can still see the screen clearly when you're outside.
If Apple does include COE in its 2027 iPhone – marking ten years since the iPhone X – it'd be the first time they've used this tech in a non-folding device. Samsung, on the other hand, is expected to use COE in its Galaxy S26 Ultra in 2026. They first used it in the Galaxy Z Fold 3 back in 2021 to make the device thinner. While I don't have inside information, it looks like Apple is taking a page out of Samsung's book here.
I've heard rumors that Apple is thinking about a complete redesign for the 20th anniversary iPhone, maybe even a screen that has no bezels and curves around all four edges. Before that, we might even see Apple's first foldable iPhone in 2026. If these changes end up being true, I think we're about to witness a new era of smartphone design. It will be exciting to see how they handle the technical challenges that come with such big changes.
Source: Mac Rumors