Apple has reportedly canceled plans to introduce a new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display coating for its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models, according to MacRumors, citing a source with reliable information.
The technology was intended to be the first of its kind on an iPhone, offering greater durability and reduced glare compared to the existing Ceramic Shield. However, scaling the display coating process to meet the production demands of millions of devices proved unfeasible, leading Apple to abandon the feature for the 2025 release cycle.
"Apple planned to use the anti-reflective coating for the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max models, which would have made them the first iPhones with an anti-reflective display," MacRumors reported. "Apple ran into problems scaling up the display coating process, and it is currently no longer a planned feature for the iPhone 17 Pro models."
Reports about the new display coating first surfaced last spring, when Weibo leaker Instant Digital claimed Apple had invested in equipment to manufacture an outer glass layer made of a new "super-hard" anti-reflective material. The project was seen as a potential improvement over the current Ceramic Shield used in iPhones.
The failure to scale production reportedly stemmed from the slow application process for the anti-reflective coating, even when limited only to Pro models. Given Apple's volume expectations for premium iPhones, the delays made the technology impractical for this generation.
Current iPhone models feature a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating but lack dedicated anti-glare technology. In other product lines, Apple offers a nano-texture display option for Mac and iPad Pro devices that minimizes reflections and improves outdoor usability. A pivot to nano-texture or another alternative for future iPhone models remains possible, though no replacement has been confirmed.
Meanwhile, competitors like Samsung have advanced their own display technology. The Galaxy S24 Ultra introduced Gorilla Glass Armor, which reportedly cuts reflections by up to 75%, enhances contrast in bright conditions, and improves color fidelity.
