Apple has reportedly abandoned plans to introduce a new super scratch-resistant, anti-reflective display coating that was initially intended for its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models.
According to details sourced by MacRumors, the cutting-edge display technology, which was meant to surpass the existing Ceramic Shield in durability and reflection reduction, has now been dropped from the development roadmap.
Speculation around this feature began last year when a Weibo-based leaker, known as Instant Digital, revealed that Apple was working on an innovative anti-reflective display layer. This new coating promised to enhance both scratch resistance and visual clarity, setting the iPhone 17 Pro lineup apart from previous generations. However, no further updates emerged in the months following, raising doubts about its progress.
Insiders claim that Apple encountered major production challenges when attempting to scale the coating process for mass manufacturing. Despite the feature being reserved exclusively for the high-end iPhone 17 Pro models, the additional complexity and time required for production rendered the feature impractical. Apple’s massive production volumes demand efficiency, and unfortunately, this new coating did not align with those standards.
Currently, Apple’s iPhone displays include a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, but they lack advanced anti-reflective technologies found in some of its other products. For instance, the Mac and iPad Pro feature a nano-texture glass option, which minimizes glare significantly—yet such a solution has not been introduced for iPhones to date.
In contrast, Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra has set a new benchmark by featuring Gorilla Glass Armor, which reduces glare by up to 75%. This technology not only enhances contrast in bright environments but also ensures more lifelike color accuracy, even under harsh lighting conditions.
Though the enhanced coating won’t debut with the iPhone 17, Apple may revisit the concept in future iterations. As manufacturing capabilities evolve, there remains a possibility that the next generation of iPhones—beyond the iPhone 17—could incorporate more sophisticated display technologies.
For now, users anticipating significant improvements in glare resistance and scratch protection may have to wait a little longer as Apple continues refining its display advancements.