The Invisible Upgrade: How Apple’s New Screen Coating Could Add Hours to Your Battery Life
By: Nick Isaksen
Published: January 22, 2026
Apple is poised to redefine iPhone efficiency with Samsung’s new 'polarizer-free' display tech. We explore how the rumored switch to M14 materials and COE coatings could deliver brighter screens and significantly longer battery life without increasing device thickness.
<p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Recent industry reports and supply chain leaks suggest that Apple is preparing a major leap in display efficiency for its upcoming iPhone lineups. While Apple has traditionally sourced panels from Samsung Display, the 2025 and 2026 models are rumored to adopt a specific "M14" material set and a revolutionary "COE" (Color Filter on Encapsulation) coating that could redefine smartphone battery life. </span></p><h2><strong style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Technology: Samsung’s M14 Material Set</strong></h2><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">At the heart of these rumors is Samsung's </span><strong style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">M14 OLED material set</strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. In the world of OLEDs, a "material set" is the specific combination of organic compounds used to create the red, green, and blue pixels. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• </span><strong style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The M14 Breakthrough:</strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> The "14" refers to the 14th generation of these high-performance materials. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• </span><strong style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Blue Phosphorescence:</strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> One of the most significant rumored upgrades is the switch from fluorescent blue emitters to </span><strong style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">phosphorescent blue</strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. While red and green OLEDs have long used phosphorescence (which is nearly 100% efficient at converting energy into light), blue pixels have historically used fluorescence, which is only about 25% efficient. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">• </span><strong style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Widespread Adoption:</strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> While the iPhone 16 Pro debuted this technology, rumors in