Apple's iPhone Air 2 could adopt Samsung's CoE OLED to deliver a slimmer design and improved battery life by 2027. Learn how the display swap boosts efficiency.
© Apple
Apple is preparing a major upgrade to its ultra-thin iPhone line, and Samsung’s display tech could play a pivotal role. The Elec reports that the forthcoming iPhone Air 2, not expected before 2027, may adopt a Samsung Display OLED panel using CoE, a move that could make the phone slimmer while extending battery life.
CoE, or Colour filter on Encapsulation, reworks the OLED stack by removing the usual polarizer. In its place come color filters, and the standard Pixel Define Layer is replaced with a black PDL. This redesign increases light transmission, meaning the screen can achieve the same brightness while drawing less power.
Dropping the polarizer also trims the panel’s thickness—an obvious fit for an ultra-thin iPhone Air 2. That freed-up volume gives Apple two attractive options: push the chassis even thinner or use the space for a higher-capacity battery to improve time between charges. Either path plays to the strengths of a device that lives on elegance and endurance.
While this would be new territory for Apple, Samsung has already been using CoE OLEDs for years. The technology first appeared in the Galaxy Z Fold 3, and the company now plans to bring it to conventional smartphones, starting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra. That trajectory suggests the approach is mature and ready for broader adoption.
If the reports bear out, iPhone Air 2 would gain not only a slimmer profile and longer runtime, but also a meaningful step forward in display efficiency. There’s a touch of irony here: Samsung—Apple’s chief rival in phones—could be the one to help elevate Apple’s most refined iPhone to the next level. For a product defined by thinness, pairing sleek design with smarter power use looks like the right bet.