Apple’s efforts to introduce a new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display coating for the iPhone 17 Pro models may have been quietly abandoned, according to a report from MacRumors.
Last year, a leak from Instant Digital suggested Apple was developing a display layer tougher than the Ceramic Shield currently used on iPhones. Since then, no further updates have surfaced — and it now appears the project faced significant setbacks.
Initially, Apple planned to debut the advanced coating exclusively on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, difficulties scaling the production process for mass manufacturing reportedly caused the company to pull back. Even limiting the feature to the Pro models wasn’t enough to make the rollout viable, given the massive number of devices Apple produces annually.
At present, iPhones only feature an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprints, and while Macs and iPad Pros offer glare-reducing nano-texture displays, similar technology has never been introduced to the iPhone. There’s some speculation that Apple might shift to a simpler anti-reflective layer or a nano-texture solution for future devices, but for now, nothing is confirmed.
Meanwhile, Apple’s competitors are moving ahead in this space. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features Gorilla Glass Armor, which cuts screen reflections by up to 75%, greatly improving visibility and color accuracy in bright environments.
Although the iPhone 17 lineup may not feature the long-rumored display upgrades, it’s possible Apple could revisit the idea in later models as manufacturing techniques improve.