Apple Cancels iPhone 17 Pro’s Anti-Reflective Display Plans: Here's Why
Apple’s ambitious move to add a new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant coating to the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro display has been shelved, according to a report by 9to5Mac.
Sources close to the development revealed that the innovative display technology faced significant production challenges and is no longer part of the 2025 iPhone roadmap.
What Went Wrong?
The new anti-reflective coating was meant to enhance display clarity, reduce glare in bright environments, and improve durability. However:
Production yield was too low to meet Apple's scale — even with limited rollout to just Pro and Pro Max models.
Apple requires millions of high-quality panels, and the coating couldn't be mass-produced at acceptable efficiency levels.
What Apple Uses Today
Currently, Apple applies a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on iPhone screens. While helpful for smudge resistance, it doesn't significantly reduce reflections compared to competitors.
On the Mac and iPad Pro, Apple uses nano-texture glass to cut down glare — but that technology hasn’t yet made it to the iPhone lineup.
How Apple Compares to Samsung
The news is especially notable because competitors like Samsung have pulled ahead in this area. For example:
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features Gorilla Glass Armor, which reduces reflections by up to 75%.
This results in:
Better outdoor visibility
Enhanced color accuracy
Improved display contrast under sunlight
Apple’s inability to match that with the iPhone 17 Pro could be seen as a missed opportunity.
What This Means for iPhone Users
While the iPhone 17 Pro is still expected to come with several hardware and software improvements, users hoping for a major screen upgrade might be disappointed.
Unless Apple finds a workaround or new supplier, we may not see true anti-reflective tech on iPhones until 2026 or beyond.
Final Thoughts
Innovation sometimes stumbles before it soars — and Apple’s display ambitions for the iPhone 17 Pro are a clear example of this.
For now, Apple fans will have to settle for existing display tech, while Android competitors push ahead with next-gen visual enhancements.
We'll keep you posted on any future developments in Apple’s display technology pipeline.
