iPhone 17 Pro won’t feature anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display

CALIFORNIA: Apple has reportedly abandoned plans to introduce a new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display coating for its upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source familiar with the matter.

According to MacRumours, the coating, which was expected to enhance durability and reduce glare, was initially rumoured last year by known Weibo leaker Instant Digital.

At the time, the tipster claimed Apple was developing a new display layer tougher than its current Ceramic Shield. However, there have been no further updates on the initiative since then—likely because the project encountered technical setbacks.

According to the report, Apple had intended to roll out the advanced coating on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, marking the first time such technology would have been applied to an iPhone display. But challenges in scaling the manufacturing process have reportedly led to the decision to shelve the feature, at least for this year.

The issue appears to lie in the production speed. Even though the coating was only planned for the Pro variants, the application process reportedly proved too slow to meet Apple’s high-volume production requirements. As a result, the feature is no longer expected to debut with the iPhone 17 lineup.

Currently, Apple’s iPhones include an oleophobic layer that resists fingerprints, but the company has yet to offer anti-reflective displays on its smartphones. A nano-texture display, which helps reduce glare, is available on some Mac and iPad Pro models—but Apple has not expanded that technology to the iPhone.

While it remains unclear whether Apple may pivot to an alternative solution—such as a simplified coating or a version of its nano-texture finish—it is equally possible the company has decided to pause the project altogether.

Rival Samsung has already moved ahead in this area, introducing Gorilla Glass Armor with its Galaxy S24 Ultra. That technology is said to reduce reflections by up to 75 per cent, improving display clarity and contrast in bright conditions.

Though Apple may revisit the idea in future iterations, the iPhone 17 Pro models are now expected to ship without the previously planned display upgrade.

iPhone 17 Pro Max price in Pakistan

The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be priced slightly higher than the current iPhone Pro Max models in Pakistan. For context, the iPhone 16 Pro Max currently starts at Rs473,000 and goes up to Rs624,000.

However, as iPhones tend to be more expensive in the initial months following launch—particularly PTA-approved units—the iPhone 17 Pro Max may start from as high as Rs575,000, with the top-end variant potentially reaching Rs700,000.

Some platforms, including Whatmobile, have also estimated that the starting price of the 256 GB iPhone 17 Pro Max could be around Rs574,000.

In the US, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to start from around $2,500.

It is important to note that these figures are speculative for now. The official pricing will be confirmed once the iPhone 17 series is formally launched.

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