Apple LTPO OLED technology expansion for iPhone 19e and foldable models with LTPO plus display upgrades by 2028
The Apple company is examining the potential of LTPO OLED technology expansion for its 2028 iPhone range. Apple plans to implement Low Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) display technology across its entire smartphone catalog by the first half of 2028. This move would finally bring high efficiency screens to the entry level e series which includes the iPhone 19e. The company continues to operate the LTPS technology for its budget devices which include both the iPhone 17e and the upcoming 18e which will be released in 2027.
Apple needs to establish different levels of display technology for iPhone 19e transition to proceed successfully. The standard iPhone 17 series has already adopted LTPO to save power but budget variants continue to use LTPS because of their lower cost. The entry level models will receive the following upgrades if the 2028 roadmap stays intact.
- The LTPO technology enables power efficiency through its ability to operate at lower refresh rates without significant battery usage when compared to LTPS.
- The complete iPhone range now includes oxide based backplanes which cover all models from the budget 19e to the Pro Max for the first time.
- The implementation of this upgrade depends on the readiness of advanced LTPO+ technology for premium models in the same year.
Apple is creating LTPO+ for its high end 2028 iPhone Air and first foldable devices which will launch in that year. The new version uses oxide material to build both the driving transistors (TFTs) and the switching transistors. The current LTPO screens utilize oxide only for switching purposes. Apple expects driving TFTs made from oxide material to achieve reduced power consumption.
The 2028 iPhone Air and foldable models will include Color Filter on Encap (CoE) technology according to expectations. The traditional polarizer which blocks outside light reflection gets removed through this process and is replaced by a color filter. The following advantages come from this situation
- The removal of the polarizer allows more light to pass through which results in decreased energy requirements for achieving maximum brightness.
- The iPhone Air design objectives require CoE for its thin design while large foldable screens need CoE for their structural requirements.
- The technology operates similarly to how it has been implemented in Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra which came out earlier this year.
Apple uses a two stage release cycle for its product launch strategy. The market will see the release of iPhone 18 Pro series and a new foldable product during the second half of 2027. The iPhone 19 and iPhone Air and budget 19e with LTPO technology will launch during the first half of 2028.
Apple Watch functions as the first testing platform for these technologies to reach their complete development stage which includes testing the LTPO3 tech in the Series 10. LG Display and Samsung Display are currently improving their panel production to achieve the efficiency standards that Apple set for 2028 according to industry developments.
