iPhone 17 Pro Rumored to Get Anti-Reflective Display

Apple might finally be ready to give its Pro iPhones a big display upgrade—one that nearly got canceled a few months ago. If the new rumors are true, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will come with an advanced anti-reflective and more scratch-resistant screen. But here’s the twist: it won’t be available on the regular iPhone 17 or the rumored iPhone 17 Air.

Apple Was In, Then Out, and Now Back in on This Display Upgrade

The anti-reflective display technology first surfaced in rumors back in 2024, promising a significant upgrade over current iPhone screens. The coating was designed to reduce glare while offering superior scratch resistance compared to Apple’s existing Ceramic Shield technology.

By March 2025, industry insiders were reporting that Apple planned to implement this “super-hard anti-reflective layer” across the iPhone 17 lineup. The technology promised to address one of the most persistent complaints about smartphone usage: trying to read your screen in bright sunlight.

But in April, new leaks said Apple had ditched the idea. Sources revealed that the new coating was too hard to mass produce. It slowed down the entire display manufacturing process and just wasn’t worth the hassle—at least at the time.

Fast forward to now, and it looks like Apple has quietly fixed the production issues. According to MacRumors, a reliable source says suppliers are finally hitting enough yield to scale this new display for mass production. That means the feature is back on the table—but only for the Pro models.

A Subtle but Significant Pro-Only Advantage

This would be Apple’s first major push to reduce display reflections on iPhones. While iPads and Macs have seen anti-reflective improvements, iPhones still struggle with glare in sunlight—especially when compared to Samsung’s latest Gorilla Glass Armor, which cuts reflections by up to 75%.

If this anti-reflective display makes it to the final production units, it could become a key reason to go for the Pro model this year—especially for users who spend a lot of time outdoors or just hate fingerprints and glare.

Still, with Apple, it’s always best to wait until September to see what really ships.