What you should know
- Smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, have reached a general plateau in hardware innovation, but there is still room for improvement in durability, specifically in making iPhone displays more resistant to scratches.
- Apple introduced the “Ceramic Shield” with the iPhone 12 in 2020, enhancing the display’s scratch resistance and significantly improving its resistance to drops.
- The next upgrade in screen durability is expected to focus more on scratch resistance, with Apple reportedly investing billions in coating equipment in Japan for this purpose.
- The improved scratch-resistant displays are anticipated to feature in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, expected to be released in 2025, utilizing a super-hard AR (anti-reflection) layer.
Full Story
Smartphone manufacturers, right? They’ve kinda hit a wall. I mean, back in the day, every new phone was like a leap into the future. Now? Not so much. But hey, there’s a silver lining – durability. That’s where the game’s at now.
So, there’s this buzz on Weibo. You know, the place where leaks sprout like mushrooms after rain. Instant Digital, a leaker, dropped a hint. Apple’s on a mission, apparently. They’re all about making the next iPhone screens tougher against scratches. iMore caught wind of this, by the way.
Remember the iPhone 12? That was something, with its Ceramic Shield and all. Made the screen kinda superhero-like against drops. Scratches too, but the real win was surviving those heart-stopping drops. Yet, here we are, talking about making it even better. Focus? Scratches, baby.
But how scratch-resistant are we talking? That’s the million-dollar question. Word on the street is, Apple’s throwing billions (with a ‘b’) at some fancy coating equipment in Japan. Then, handing it over to China’s supply chain. Big moves, huh?
Now, don’t get too excited for the iPhone 16. This scratch-proof magic? Probably not gonna grace it. We’re looking at the iPhone 17 Pro and its big brother, the Pro Max. 2025 is the year to mark on your calendars.
The secret sauce? A super-hard AR layer on the outer glass. AR’s probably anti-reflection. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Apple might be eyeing something like what Samsung‘s got with its Galaxy S24 Ultra. We did a side-by-side with the latest iPhone and Pixel. Interesting stuff.
So, yeah. The future’s looking scratch-resistant. And maybe, just maybe, a bit less reflective. Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure – it’s an exciting time for our pockets. And our phones, of course.
