iPhone 17 Pro Might Get Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display After All

[MacRumors]

Apple has addressed yield issues with the scratch resistant anti-reflective display layer that it wants to use for some iPhone 17 models, and now it looks like the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max might feature the upgraded technology.

A reliable source that spoke to MacRumors said Apple suppliers have been able to achieve a high enough yield on the anti-reflective glass to support mass production. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will get the new display technology, but it won't be coming to the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 17 Air.

For context, we first heard rumors about the anti-reflective display layer in 2024. It's supposedly more scratch resistant than the current Ceramic Shield, so the iPhone 17 models that use it may be able to better hold up to wear and tear.

Earlier this year, Apple was having problems with scaling the display coating process, and it seemed like the feature was going to be canceled as a result. Adding the anti-reflective layer was too laborious, and it was slowing down production. The process has since been improved, and the new display is once again a possibility.

Current iPhone models have a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and the Ceramic Shield, but Apple hasn't focused on anti-reflectivity for the iPhone display like it has for iPad and Mac displays.

Samsung's latest smartphones feature Gorilla Glass Armor, a technology that cuts down on reflections by up to 75 percent and improves contrast in bright lighting conditions. Apple could introduce similar functionality to keep up with the improvements that Samsung has debuted.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Might Get Scratch Resistant Anti-Reflective Display After All

 

[MacUserFella]

Oh thank the heavens

 

[TechRunner]

There's that magic word...MIGHT.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Gurman:

“I’m led to believe an anti-reflective display could help to reduce reflectivity.”

 

[Neil Harrison]

Will this mean screen protectors are a thing of the past?

 

[Dark-Signature]

Is that supposed to be that horrible matt coating?

 

[klasma]

I hope they make the Liquid Glass anti-reflective as well.

 

[klasma]

It's supposedly more scratch resistant than the current Ceramic Shield, so the iPhone 17 models that use it may be able to better hold up to wear and tear.

“Tear”?? What are they doing with their iPhones?

 

[TechRunner]

“Tear”?? What are they doing with their iPhones?

Handing them to toddlers.

 

[IceCool]

If that's the case, take my money.

 

[canpoyrazoglu]

Current iPhone models have a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

Are we talking about the anti-fingerprint coating that literally keeps all the fingerprints on the aceeen?

 

[orbital~debris]

iPhone 88 Might Get Flux Capacitor After All.

 

[t0rqx]

Now fix the Macbook Pros scratches and dents that come out of production.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I recall Steve talking about more scratch resistant displays on iPhones he announced, and the last one was the iPhone 4 15 years ago. Since then we have had many "upgrades" on that front with Ceramic Shield being the latest and nearly iPhone displays still scratch very easily. So I'll keep putting a screen protector on mine.

 

[HouseLannister]

Only upgrade I need

 

[leandromp]

hasn't that been in other non-iphones for years? am i crazy?

 

[everlast3434]

Oh that'd be nice. I'm one of those people that uses it right out of the box. No case, no screen protector, etc. And it's always pretty scratched up a year later.

 

[JWD]

This needs to happen!! Tired of scratched and cracked screen protectors. Got the Apple Store Belkin installed and it stinks. So do the Amazon ones. Decided to go reckless with my iPhone 15 PM and go without one now. I love it so much more but it still scratches. Anyway rather go nude and get some minor scratches then have cracked screen protectors. This problem needs to be addressed pronto. My AWU 2 is nude, not a single scratch on the screen and it’s been a year. I’ve hit metal with it and taken paint off walls. That’s more like it!!

 

[klasma]

iPhone 88 Might Get Flux Capacitor After All.

It can’t be too far off:

 

[klasma]

I recall Steve talking about more scratch resistant displays on iPhones he announced, and the last one was the iPhone 4 15 years ago. Since then we have had many "upgrades" on that front with Ceramic Shield being the latest and nearly iPhone displays still scratch very easily. So I'll keep putting a screen protector on mine.

Ceramic Shield was for shatter protection, which traditionally has been antithetical to scratch resistance, because scratch resistant = more rigid material = more shatter-prone.

Anecdotically, I found the iPhone 5 to SE1 era displays more scratch resistant than iPhone 12/13. Larger displays may have to use more flexible glass to maintain shatter resistance, but at the cost of losing some scratch resistance.

 

[IceCool]

Will this mean screen protectors are a thing of the past?

Screen protectors have been a thing of the past for years now, for me at least 🤣
Still, extremely happy for this change (if it actually does happen!)

After all, different strokes for different folks.

 

[dampfnudel]

The 17 Pro is sounding like a very substantial upgrade over my 14 Pro with this new feature in addition to the significantly upgraded cameras, vapor chamber, 12GB RAM, orange/copper color, etc.

 

[HouseLannister]

hasn't that been in other non-iphones for years? am i crazy?

Only the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra. Corning Gorilla Glass Armor

 

[dampfnudel]

I recall Steve talking about more scratch resistant displays on iPhones he announced, and the last one was the iPhone 4 15 years ago. Since then we have had many "upgrades" on that front with Ceramic Shield being the latest and nearly iPhone displays still scratch very easily. So I'll keep putting a screen protector on mine.

I’m sure there will be a ton of YouTube videos of people testing how well it works…or doesn’t.

 

[marinersaptcomplex]

I recall Steve talking about more scratch resistant displays on iPhones he announced, and the last one was the iPhone 4 15 years ago. Since then we have had many "upgrades" on that front with Ceramic Shield being the latest and nearly iPhone displays still scratch very easily. So I'll keep putting a screen protector on mine.

Generally, for glass, it’s toughness vs hardness:

⬆️ Shatter-proof = ⬇️ scratch resistance (and vice versa)

Apple seems to want to prioritize for shattering rather than superficial scratching, and it can be costly to try engineer for both. I’m curious to see what this coating is that will keep the toughness of Ceramic Shield but the hardness of pre-CS screens.