Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max were set to feature a groundbreaking scratch-resistant, anti-reflective display coating, marking a first for Apple’s mobile devices. This innovative addition was expected to boost interest in the more costly models. However, reports now indicate that scaling issues have led to its removal from the upcoming lineup.
The production process for the anti-reflective coating was reportedly affecting manufacturing output. Currently, iPhones use a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, which isn’t as effective in reducing glare compared to competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. The addition of the new coating would have helped Apple level the playing field with its main rival.
The challenge lies in Apple’s need to produce millions of devices annually. Applying the proposed coating was taking too long, thereby slowing down the production of the premium handsets. If Apple can streamline this process in the future, there is hope the feature might debut with the next generation, potentially the iPhone 18 series.
It’s important to note that this anti-reflective coating differs from Apple’s existing nano-texture technology, which reduces glare but doesn’t eliminate it. The report did not specify whether Apple might explore incorporating nano-texture glass for these models as an alternative, leaving room for future possibilities.
