Apple is poised to unveil its highly anticipated iPhone 17 series in September. The lineup is expected to include the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air (also referred to as iPhone 17 Slim), along with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models.
Previously, there were indications that Apple would introduce a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective display coating on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, recent reports suggest that this feature has been scrapped due to difficulties in scaling the coating process. Current iPhone models come equipped with a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
According to MacRumors, which cites unnamed sources, the planned anti-reflective display coating for the iPhone 17 Pro models has been cancelled. The decision stems from challenges Apple encountered in scaling the coating process for their production needs, leading to the feature being dropped altogether.
The implementation of the anti-reflective layer was reported to be a lengthy process, particularly given Apple’s extensive production scale. Although this technology was intended solely for the Pro models, the limitations of its application have rendered it impractical for this year’s release.
Since the launch of the iPhone 11 in 2019, Apple has incorporated a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating in its smartphones, maintaining this standard in subsequent models.
In the previous year, a tipster on Weibo named Instant Digital suggested that a new display coating was being developed for the iPhone 17 series. It was claimed that Apple had created equipment capable of applying a “super-hard” anti-reflective layer designed to enhance scratch resistance, surpassing the durability of the existing Ceramic Shield technology.
This technology appeared to parallel Corning’s Gorilla Glass Armor, which made its debut with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, featuring anti-reflective properties and purportedly offering four times the scratch resistance compared to traditional aluminosilicate cover glasses.
As the September launch approaches, anticipation grows around the iPhone 17 series. The Pro models are rumored to feature an aluminum frame and will operate on Apple’s A19 Pro chip, supplemented with 12GB of RAM. In contrast, the standard iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Slim or Air models are expected to be powered by either the A18 or A19 chip and come with 8GB of RAM.
