Apple enthusiasts hoping for a tougher screen on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro series may have to curb their expectations. Contrary to earlier rumors, the tech giant is reportedly shelving plans for a new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display coating on its premium models — the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

According to a recent MacRumors report, Apple had initially aimed to introduce a cutting-edge protective layer designed to resist scratches and minimize glare on its Pro lineup. However, insiders now reveal that the technology’s application process has proven too complex and time-consuming for large-scale production, forcing Apple to backtrack.

Despite limiting the coating’s rollout to just the Pro variants, Apple reportedly found the manufacturing bottlenecks insurmountable — at least for this product cycle.

Instead of the new enhancement, Apple will continue using the oleophobic coating it has relied on since the iPhone 11 series. This layer helps combat fingerprint smudges but doesn’t offer the heightened scratch resistance fans were hoping for.

Earlier leaks hinted that Apple’s shelved coating may have been inspired by Corning’s Gorilla Glass Armor — the ultra-durable, anti-reflective screen protection used in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. That glass is widely praised for its exceptional resistance to scratches and light glare, a standard Apple now appears unlikely to meet with its 2025 Pro iPhones.

Despite the setback, the iPhone 17 series is still expected to debut in September 2025 with four models:

iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Slim (or Air)
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max

The Pro variants are tipped to come with an aluminum frame, Apple’s new A19 Pro chip, and 12GB of RAM. Meanwhile, the standard and Slim versions may sport either the A18 or A19 chipsets along with 8GB RAM.