Apple will copy this amazing thing from Samsung. Too bad other manufacturers didn't join in…

Apple seems to have once again found inspiration from its South Korean competitor. According to a new report from MacRumors, the iPhone manufacturer plans to equip its next flagship models, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, with an anti-reflective display, which will significantly reduce glare and improve readability in direct sunlight. This is similar technology to what Samsung introduced in January 2024 with its Galaxy S24 Ultra under the name Gorilla Glass Armor.

Return of Previously Rejected Technology

The possibility of an anti-reflective display for iPhones has been speculated since March 2024, even before the introduction of the iPhone 16 series. However, in April 2025, reports emerged that Apple had abandoned this feature due to manufacturing process issues. New information now claims that the situation has changed. Apple’s suppliers have reportedly achieved a sufficiently high yield in the production of anti-reflective glass, enabling mass production for the upcoming models.

According to available information, the new technology will offer not only better display readability under various lighting conditions but also higher scratch resistance. These are features that users will certainly appreciate – similar to how owners of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra appreciated them, where we praised the phone’s seamless use even on a bright sunny day.

Exclusivity for Higher-End Models

While the premium iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models are expected to receive this technology, the base iPhone 17 and the new iPhone 17 Air will have to do without it. This is a clear strategy to motivate customers to purchase more expensive variants. Apple thus continues the trend of reserving advanced features for Pro models, which helps justify their higher price.

The anti-reflective layer represents a significant improvement in user experience, which is not only reflected in better display readability. Thanks to it, there is no need to increase display brightness when used outdoors, leading to lower power consumption, longer battery life, and less heating.

History of Anti-Reflective Displays at Apple

Anti-reflective technology is not entirely new to Apple. The company has offered matte displays in the past, for example, with the 30-inch Apple Cinema Display from 2004. In 2019, it introduced “nano-texture” technology with the Pro Display XDR, albeit at a high premium compared to the standard glossy display.

Gradually, Apple began implementing this technology into other products, such as the 2020 iMac (with an extra charge) and later into some iPad and MacBook Pro models. Extending it to the iPhone would therefore be a logical step, even though glare is not as significant an issue on smaller displays as it is on larger screens.

Do you have experience with the Galaxy S24/S25 Ultra and its display?

Source: MacRumors