Apple's iPhone 17 is rumored to have a bright, anti-reflective screen that could outperform the Galaxy S25.

Even the cheapest iPhone 17 model gets something that the Samsung champion doesn't have.
## iPhone 17 Screen: Enhanced Brightness and Durability
The iPhone 17 features Ceramic Shield 2 for improved durability and a new screen coating developed by Apple with the goals of:
* Enhanced anti-reflective performance
* Reduced glare
* 3x improved scratch resistance
The iPhone 17 panel achieves a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, the highest ever for an iPhone, resulting in twice the outdoor contrast.
The Galaxy S25, a direct competitor, reaches 2,600 nits peak brightness, according to Samsung.
The iPhone 17 has a brighter display and a coating to reduce reflection and glare. Testing will be done to confirm these claims. The baseline S25 does not have the anti-reflective screen found on the S25 Ultra.
The iPhone 17 screen has thinner bezels and has grown from 6.1 to 6.3 inches diagonally.
A 120Hz refresh rate is included for smoother scrolling and gaming. The Super Retina XDR display includes an Always-On feature.
The display lowers to a 1Hz refresh rate when the iPhone 17 is idle to conserve battery.
## iPhone Air Display: Balanced Size and Efficiency
The iPhone Air has a 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology enables refresh rates up to 120Hz for fluid scrolling and responsive games. The display can lower to 1Hz when idle to save battery and also offers an Always-On mode. Like the other iPhone 17 models, the screen reaches 3,000 nits of brightness with doubled contrast.
The iPhone Air maintains display technology while being the thinnest model.
Durability is enhanced with Ceramic Shield 2. Scratch resistance is tripled, and a specialized coating reduces glare. Both the front and back are protected, for four times the crack resistance of previous models.
## iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max: Size Options and Coating Enhancements
The iPhone 17 Pro models are available in two sizes:
* iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3 inches
* iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9 inches
Both have a Super Retina XDR display for detailed and vivid visuals.
The Pro models share display features with the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air.
Ceramic Shield 2 provides added protection, along with an Apple-designed coating that triples scratch resistance and reduces glare for improved clarity in bright conditions.
ProMotion technology (with refresh rates up to 120Hz), Always-On functionality, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits are included.
## "Iconic Phones" Book Announcement
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips," a book highlighting over 20 notable phones and the technological advancements they represent, will be released this fall. Sign up to receive an early discount.