Apple is continually working to make devices slimmer, brighter, and more efficient. 2027 could be a significant milestone: Supply chain reports indicate that both the upcoming Vision Air and a 20th anniversary iPhone could feature the same new display technology. This process makes screens both thinner and brighter—a development that is likely to impact not only Apple's product design but also the entire industry.
Since the first iPhone in 2007, Apple has regularly set trends and redefined technical standards. The iPhone X ushered in a nearly edge-to-edge design, and Vision Pro ushered in a new category of spatial computing technology. With Vision Air and a celebratory iPhone, another innovation will take center stage in 2027: the integration of CoE displays. This technology could enable precisely what Jony Ive has long described as the ideal—an iPhone that essentially appears like a single pane of glass.
The quest for thinner and brighter displays
Early smartphone displays were complex in construction. They required multiple layers: one for the actual display, another for the touch function, plus layers for anti-reflective and scratch protection. Each layer made the devices thicker, more complex, and less translucent. For years, the industry has pursued the goal of integrating multiple functions into fewer layers. This saves space, increases brightness, and reduces production costs. Apple has implemented this approach several times, most recently with improvements to OLED displays.
CoE: Color Filter on Encapsulation
Samsung developed a method to make displays even more efficient: Color Filter on Encapsulation (CoE). Instead of combining white emitters with additional RGB color filters, the color filters and light emission are combined in a single glass plate. This saves an entire layer and makes displays thinner and brighter at the same time. This technology could also find its way into Apple in 2027. There has long been speculation that the Vision Air could be equipped with CoE. A new report now suggests that at least one iPhone will also receive this technology in the same year.
Vision Air and iPhone celebrate their 20th anniversary
Samsung plans to initially use CoE technology in its own non-foldable smartphones. Apple is also expected to receive CoE-enabled displays in 2027. Industry representatives expect Apple to use the technology in high-end models, in line with the anniversary of the first iPhone. The iPhone X was an important step toward bezel-less design, and the iPhone Air another. There is speculation that Apple could introduce a bezel-less iPhone in 2027. Whether it will receive a special anniversary name or simply be called the iPhone 19 Pro remains to be seen. What is certain is that Apple is likely to use the 20th anniversary to present a technological highlight.
Significance for the industry
By introducing CoE displays, Apple would not only be leveraging a proven process from Samsung but also bringing the technology to the mass market. Thinner screens make room for larger batteries, while brighter displays improve readability in all lighting conditions. At the same time, reducing the number of layers could make manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective in the long run. For Apple, this represents another step toward its long-held goal of developing an iPhone that appears to be made from a single piece of glass. For the industry, it could be the next major disruption, comparable to the introduction of Retina displays or OLED.
Apple sets new standards in 2027
2027 could be a pivotal year for Apple. The Vision Air and the anniversary iPhone have the potential to usher in the next generation of mobile devices with CoE displays. Thinner, brighter, and at a new technological level—this is what the future of displays could look like. Apple would thus demonstrate once again that technical innovation is not just a goal, but the foundation of success. (Image: Shutterstock / Black Salmon)
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