Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are no longer expected to feature the scratch-resistant, anti-reflective display coating that was previously rumored for the new iPhone 17 series. According to a recent report by MacRumors, Apple has cancelled the plan due to scaling challenges in the production process.
Initially tipped by Weibo tipster Instant Digital, the new anti-reflective display technology was said to offer more scratch resistance than Apple’s current Ceramic Shield protection. It was even compared to Corning’s Gorilla Glass Armor, which debuted with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and boasts four times more scratch resistance than standard aluminosilicate glass.
However, the process of applying this new super-hard anti-reflective coating proved too time-consuming and complex for mass production, particularly for the iPhone 17 Pro models, even in limited quantities. As a result, Apple will continue using its oleophobic (fingerprint-resistant) coating, first introduced with the iPhone 11.
Despite this setback, the iPhone 17 lineup, which includes the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Slim (or iPhone 17 Air), iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, is expected to launch in September 2025. The Pro variants are tipped to feature aluminium frames, run on the powerful new Apple A19 Pro chip, and pack 12GB RAM, while the standard and Slim models may ship with A18 or A19 chips and 8GB RAM.
