According to a reliable source speaking to MacRumors, Apple may have scrapped plans to equip the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max with a new anti-reflective, ultra-scratch-resistant screen coating.

Last spring, the Instant Digital account on Weibo revealed that Apple was developing a new screen coating that would offer better anti-reflective and scratch-resistant capabilities than the current Ceramic Shield.

However, no further information about this upgraded screen technology has surfaced since then, suggesting the project may have failed.

Apple initially intended to apply this anti-reflective coating exclusively to its premium models - the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Had the project succeeded, these would have been the first iPhones equipped with such technology.

Nevertheless, Apple reportedly encountered difficulties scaling up the anti-reflective coating process for mass production, and the feature has now been dropped from the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

The coating process proved too slow for the millions of devices Apple produces annually. Even if limited to the Pro models, mass production still seemed unfeasible this year.

Currently, iPhones feature an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprints, but Apple has yet to focus much on anti-reflective technology. On Mac and iPad Pro devices, Apple offers a nano-texture glass option to reduce glare, but this technology has not been introduced on iPhones.

It is possible that Apple may shift to using nano-texture or a simpler coating alternative, though there is also a chance the entire plan has been shelved for now.

Meanwhile, Samsung has introduced Gorilla Glass Armor on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which reduces reflections by up to 75%. This technology improves contrast under strong lighting and maintains vivid color accuracy even under sunlight or intense indoor lighting.

If the iPhone 17 models do not feature the planned anti-reflective coating, Apple may instead introduce the innovation in future iPhone generations once production processes are refined.

iPhone 17 Pro Max to feature the largest battery yet

According to reputable leaker Ice Universe, in a post on X, the next-generation iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a thickness of 8.725mm, compared to 8.25mm on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The 0.5mm increase may be barely noticeable in hand but is significant enough to accommodate a much larger battery, marking a major upgrade.

In another post on Weibo, Ice Universe stated: "The iPhone 17 Pro Max looks very powerful, and the thicker body means the battery will definitely be bigger."

Even before the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Pro Max line was already known for its outstanding battery life. The iPhone 16 Pro Max further enhanced this with a larger body and battery, even benefiting the smaller iPhone 16 Pro with improved endurance.

According to Apple's announcement, the iPhone 16 Pro Max can currently play continuous video for up to 33 hours, an increase from 29 hours on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

This year, that figure could be even more impressive. Inspired by the success of the Apple Watch Ultra, it seems Apple is aiming to deliver what users have long desired: a colossal battery that seems never to run out.

Apple’s new iPhone lineup is set to debut this fall. The 2025 models are expected to include the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, all featuring numerous upgrades, particularly for the Pro models.

Hai Phong (Macrumors, Forbes)