Brian Jeffrey
Apple is getting ready to enhance its forthcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max with a premium display coating designed to improve scratch resistance and minimize glare—one of the most eagerly awaited advancements of this generation.
Reliable sources indicate that Apple has resolved prior production yield challenges tied to this display technology, now enabling large-scale production for the Pro models.
New display coating confirmed for iPhone 17 Pro series
The anti-glare and scratch-resistant coating was initially leaked in 2024. Reports indicate that it surpasses the durability of the current Ceramic Shield, making the iPhone 17 Pro models better equipped to withstand daily wear over time.
Apple initially faced challenges in scaling the intricate coating process, causing production delays and raising concerns that the feature might be abandoned. However, advancements in the manufacturing process now render it suitable for mass production.
MacRumors has learned that Apple’s suppliers have achieved adequate production yields for this new glass technology, clearing the path for its use in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 17 and the anticipated iPhone 17 Air will not receive this upgrade.
Current iPhones still lack advanced anti-reflective features
While the existing iPhones have an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprints and a Ceramic Shield for durability, Apple has yet to heavily invest in anti-reflective display technology for iPhones, unlike its iPads and MacBooks.
Meanwhile, Samsung, Apple’s main rival, has already implemented Gorilla Glass Armor in its latest smartphones—a material that reduces reflections by up to 75% and enhances screen contrast in bright settings.
If Apple introduces comparable technology in the iPhone 17 Pro line, it would not only lessen glare and reflections, enhancing outdoor visibility, but also improve scratch resistance, long-term screen clarity, and overall viewing quality with deeper contrast and reduced glare. This move would strengthen Apple’s competitiveness against premium Android devices.
Feature limited to premium models
By limiting this enhanced display feature to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple continues its strategy of distinguishing its product lines by including the most advanced capabilities only in its top-tier models.
This new scratch-resistant and anti-glare coating is poised to be one of the highlight features of the iPhone 17 Pro series. With Apple’s previous technical and production hurdles now overcome, the company seems prepared to deliver this improved display experience to users—offering a more durable, clearer, and outdoor-friendly iPhone.
Apple plans to unveil the iPhone 17 series this September, which is expected to include the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 Air, with the most significant upgrades allocated for the Pro models.
Hai Phong (9to5mac, Macrumors)
