iPhone 17 display rumored to be anti-reflective and more scratch-resistant

Apple regularly promotes the hardness and scratch-resistance of its iPhone screens, and its claims are typically backed up in independent testing. A new rumor, however, claims that Apple's glass partner Corning is continuing to to work on yet harder glass, aiming to improve on even its latest Ceramic Shield displays.

According to leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, there is to be a significant change in time for the iPhone 17 in 2025.

This leaker suggests that the new hardness comes with a compromise, however. Specifically, the new screens could show finger-oil issues after less time than the current displays.

"It is true that the screen hardness has been solved, and the oleophobic layer is also a problem of concern to users," the leaker continues.

The leaker says that users who upgrade their iPhone every year will not have a problem. But that implies that the finger oil repelling element of the display will at least begin to fail after a year.

Nonetheless, Instant Digital concludes that this new display means iPhones do not need a third-party screen protector on the screen. The leaker says that it should mean the iPhone be used with "with 0 scratches on the screen."

The leak does not give any details of Apple's screen supplier, but based on their joint history, it's likely that the company is Corning. In which case, the few details available suggest that Apple is buying Corning's Gorilla Glass Armor, which was first deployed on the Samsung S24 Ultra.

Apple has also periodically funded research Corning. Most recently, it gave the company $45 million in 2021, but that follows previous investments totaling $850 million xsince 2017.

Note that leaker Instant Digital does not yet have a long history of accurate leaks. However, it was right about the yellow iPhone 14, for instance.