This fall, Apple is introducing a brand new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air that may steal a lot of attention from the Pro models. But a recently rumored iPhone 17 Pro display feature could prove the best differentiator at just the right time.

Pro models may lose a key display differentiator, but gain another

Apple’s iPhone Pro models have, for several years now, carried a key display advantage: ProMotion. If you want an iPhone screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and always-on technology, you have to buy a Pro model.

But rumors indicate that won’t be the case for long.

Apple is expected to bring ProMotion support to its entire fall lineup:

• iPhone 17
• iPhone 17 Air
• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 17 Pro Max

In many ways, a higher refresh rate display seems long overdue for Apple’s flagship models.

But making the change this year is risky for one main reason: iPhone 17 Air may already threaten to win over existing Pro users.

Last week, however, we learned that Apple may have a new differentiator coming for the iPhone 17 Pro.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to exclusively get a new anti-reflective, more scratch-resistant display technology.

Anti-reflective iPhone 17 Pro display could make up for loss of ProMotion exclusivity

Will this anti-reflective display be essentially like nano-texture but for iPhone? It’s hard to say, as details remain minimal.

However, if this rumor does prove true, it would make a lot of sense in a year when the Pro models are losing a key display differentiator.

If bringing ProMotion to the full iPhone 17 line means users might be tempted to ditch the pricier 17 Pro models, Apple can use the new anti-reflective, scratch-resistant display to entice the pricier upgrade.

We’ve seen nano-texture glass become a bigger trend for Apple in the past year, with the M4 iPad Pro getting it followed by M4 iMac and MacBook Pro.

Could the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max be next? They very well might—though hopefully in a way that doesn’t require an up-charge or come with any other drawbacks.

Source: 9to5mac