Apple iPhone 17 Pro Key Feature Canceled, Report Claims

Apple will release the iPhone 17 series, its 2025 flagship phones, in a matter of months (almost certainly in September). However, one predicted feature, an all-new screen technology, may have been ditched, it seems.
Previously, it had been rumored that the next Pro models of the iPhone, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, would have a different display technology that would add a new anti-reflective layer.
If you've seen the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, for instance, you'll know that anti-reflective is a very good thing indeed, making for much easier viewing in brighter light situations. The earlier rumors also said that the new covering would be more durable, too.
However, in a new report from MacRumors, Juli Clover says that new information throws all this into doubt. 'Apple may have canceled the super scratch resistant anti-reflective display coating that it planned to use for the iPhone 17 Pro models, according to a source with reliable information that spoke to MacRumors,' it claims.
The original report is more than a year old, coming from Instant Digital, a leaker on Weibo with a decent, though not perfect, track record. They claimed that a new anti-reflective display layer that was more scratch-resistant than Ceramic Shield, was on its way, destined for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models.
The report claims that the reason we haven't heard any more about this report is down to Apple hitting problems when it tried to introduce the display technology at scale.
'The process for adding the anti-reflective coating to the iPhone display was too slow when taking into account the millions of devices that Apple produces, so even though it was only planned for the Pro models, it still seems that it wasn't feasible this year,' Clover says.
Just as intriguing as the lack of reflections onscreen was the prospect of better resistance to scratches. As someone who has grazed their display in the most innocent of gestures repeatedly over the years, scratch-resistance is high on my wishlist. Ceramic Shield is exceptional for preventing the front of the iPhone shattering when it falls, but those scratches can still be a nuisance.
If not this year, a future generation may still deliver this. Fingers crossed.

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We've spent years testing the most popular ANC buds on the market, braving packed subway trains, snoring housemates and airplanes filled with crying babies to see which ones can actually drown out the noise and bring you some relaxation and focus. After near-endless hours of listening, here are our four favorites — all of which make great alternatives to over-ear noise-canceling headphones. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Earbuds The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer the best and most customizable noise cancelation of any buds we've tested, complete with Immersive Audio for 360-degree our review Apple AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C The AirPods Pro 2 offer superb ANC and a smart Adaptive Audio mode that can adjust to your surroundings, all while delivering great audio quality and seamless connectivity with your iPhone, iPad and Mac. Read our review EarFun Air Pro 4 The EarFun Air Pro 4's excellent noise cancellation belies its budget price, as do its great sound quality and plethora of useful features. Use our exclusive code EPRO4CNN to save extra at our review Beats Fit Pro The Beats Fit Pro get you AirPods Pro-quality noise cancellation within an extra-snug design that's tailor-made for working out. Bose has long held the top spot in our best noise cancelling earbuds category, and now that the QuietComfort Ultra are here, we don't see that changing anytime soon. The company's class-leading ANC isn't just blissfully suppressive — it's also more adaptive and customizable than almost all of the competition. The buds' handy ActiveSense feature can automatically adjust ANC levels based on your surroundings, while CustomTune analyses your ears to deliver the most optimal noise cancellation possible. You can also toggle between up to 10 sound profiles via the Bose app, and assign a custom ANC level (1 to 10) to each one. Bose knows noise cancellation isn't one size fits all, and we love the array of options on here. Once we got our settings right, we enjoyed a delightful amount of quiet whether we were on noisy flights, crowded trains, busy parks or chatty rooftop bars. Heck, even a crying baby couldn't break our tester's focus. And once it was time to switch to Aware mode to return to the real world, we could easily carry on conversations without taking the buds out. The QuietComfort Ultra's top-of-the-pack ANC helps accentuate its big new feature: Immersive Audio. Similar to Apple's Spatial Audio, this feature allowed us to enjoy our favorite songs in immersive 360 degrees — something that especially stood out when listening to live recordings. And unlike some other spatial audio options, Immersive Audio can convert just about any stereo content into three-dimensional sound. The fact that this superb ANC and audio is packed into a luxurious-looking (and water-resistant!) design complete with Google Fast Pair support for Android users and a healthy amount of customization options only rounds out the package more. The Ultra's battery life (6 hours with ANC on, 4 hours with it off) won't blow you away, but it's still better than the AirPods Pro 2's ANC runtime of about 5 hours. The earbuds don't support wireless charging out of the box; you'll need to get a separate $49 wireless charging cover, which we don't love. But if you're willing to invest in the best and most versatile active noise cancellation you can get from a pair of earbuds, Bose's are the ones to get. If you're one of the few folks that use an iPhone and aren't rocking a pair of AirPods Pro, the latest model's excellent ANC is one of many reasons to jump on the bandwagon. As someone who used the original AirPods Pro extensively, the increase in noise cancellation quality was immediately evident — annoying construction sounds that once broke through were now reduced to a mercifully manageable hum. Apple claims that these buds have up to twice as much ANC power as the original model, and I'd say they're not very far off. But while the AirPods Pro 2's noise cancellation impressed me off the bat, it's the way they've evolved over time that have kept them in my daily rotation. A recent software update introduced Adaptive Audio mode, which delivers a blend of ANC and Transparency based on your surroundings. It's been my go-to on dog walks, where I want to hear nearby cars and pedestrians but don't want my ears blown out by the sound of a high-rise being built. There's also Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers your playback volume once your AirPods Pro detect that you're talking. With these features combined, you can let your earbuds adapt to what you're up to instead of constantly fidgeting with controls. When you're not trying to drown out the outside world, Transparency mode works as well as ever for amplifying your surroundings and making it feel like you're not wearing earbuds at all. And thanks to the new extra-small ear tip option on this latest model, more people than ever can enjoy that tight seal you need for good noise cancellation. The AirPods Pro 2's great ANC make it easy to get lost in the buds' superb sound quality and spatial audio capabilities, the latter of which make some of my favorite albums sound extra-immersive; almost like I'm hearing them live. And then you have all of the usual Apple perks like effortless pairing to your iPhone, iPad and Mac and hands-free Siri controls. Heck, you can even use these buds to take a hearing test. If you live in the Apple world and want a good balance of great ANC and hassle-free compatibility with all your gadgets, it doesn't get better than the AirPods Pro 2. It certainly doesn't hurt that these premium buds are almost always on sale these days. It's kind of shocking that the EarFun Air Pro 4 cost as little as they do. The company behind many of our favorite budget earbuds have managed to deliver AirPods Pro-like performance and specs, but for a fraction of the price — all while offering a few neat perks you won't find on more expensive competitors. The Air Pro 4's noise cancellation is strikingly good for a pair of sub-$100 buds, consistently and significantly dampening everyday annoyances like loud appliances and chatty public spaces. In fact, our tester found EarFun's ANC superior to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Google Pixel Buds Pro, both of which cost a whole lot more. Fortunately, ANC isn't the only area where the Air Pro 4 punch above their weight class. These buds are some of the best-sounding out there regardless of price, with our tester going as far to say that they sound even better than the AirPods Pro 2. It certainly helps that you can create your own sound profiles in the EarFun app for iOS and Android, as well as take advantage of high-resolution audio formats on compatible Android phones. Long battery life (7.5 hours with ANC on; 11 without) just sweetens the deal further. You do make a few sacrifices at this low price, namely finicky touch controls (a common problem with EarFun's buds) and subpar call quality. But if you want a reliable pair of ANC earbuds for roughly a fifth of what most premium competitors cost, the EarFun Air Pro 4 are the best of their kind. What if you need to drown out those extra-loud grunters at the gym? Meet the Beats Fit Pro. They're our favorite workout headphones and one of our picks for the best wireless earbuds overall, thanks in no small part to the reliable active noise cancellation that complements their exercise-friendly fit and robust feature set. The Fit Pro's active noise cancellation is on par with that of the original AirPods Pro, and was more than reliable for quieting loud subway cars and traffic-filled streets. Transparency mode was likewise reliable, which is something that's extra important for a pair of buds you might take out on a run. Sure, you might get more engrossing ANC from some other options on this list, but they don't come with the same unique fit that's tailor-made for athletes. Beats' earbuds sport a unique wing tip design, which forms a snug yet comfortable seal thanks to some added upper ear support. They've stayed securely fastened throughout years of heavy use, including no shortage of very sweaty basketball sessions. Gym-ready fit aside, the Beats Fit Pro are practically one-to-one with the AirPods Pro when it comes to sound quality and features while also sporting their own exclusive perks. They'll pair to your Apple gadgets as easily as AirPods do and have the same handy Siri controls, but also work great with Android via the Beats app. And unlike AirPods, the Fit Pro come in a ton of attractive color options, which is great for expressing yourself when you're out on the track or working on those gains. You'll also get a decent six hours of ANC battery life from these, which beats the AirPods Pro 2 by about an hour. The newer Powerbeats Pro 2 offer similarly great (if not slightly better) active noise cancellation, but I prefer the Fit Pro's less obtrusive design compared to the clip-on Powerbeats. The Fit Pro are also easy to score on sale nowadays, making their always-great value that much better. Performance Active noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation is always a major factor in our earbud ratings, and naturally, it held extra weight for this specific list. We evaluated each set of earbuds' ANC quality by simply using them out in the real world, taking note of how suppressive they were for noisy environments like subway cars, crowded streets and (when possible) flights. For a more objective side-by-side comparison, we also played airport sounds from a computer and took note of how well each pair of buds were able to silence the noise. Sound quality: Great ANC isn't very useful if it's highlighting bad sound, which is why overall audio quality played a major role in our evaluations. We took note of how well each pair held up with our usual playlists, making sure to get a healthy mix of rock, pop and hip-hop music in the mix. Bonus points for any earbuds that offer perks like spatial or high-resolution audio. Design Comfort and fit: You can't get quality noise cancellation without a nice snug fit, which is why comfort and snugness are a major factor in our evaluations. We note not only how comfortable and secure each pair of buds are out of the box, but also how many ear tip options are available for finding the right fit. Aesthetics: Your earbuds should look good. While style isn't everything, we generally favored options that we'd actually want to be seen in public wearing. Having multiple color options is always a nice bonus. Controls: We tested every available on-ear control for each pair, noting not only how well the controls work but also how many options there are for customizing what they do. Features and compatibility Companion app: Earbuds with a good companion app have a major advantage here, especially if you want to easily toggle and customize your ANC. We also tested each set of earbuds' special features to see how useful they are — and how they stack up to what competitors offer. Compatibility: Whenever possible, we paired each set of buds to both an iPhone and Android phone, noting how easy the process was on both platforms and if any features were missing on either of them. Think about how much ANC you need If you're reading this, you obviously want a pair of earbuds that can silence noise. But good ANC comes in many forms. If you want the most suppressive noise cancellation out there — not to mention the ability to finely adjust said noise cancellation — then go ahead and get the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. But if you're mainly going to use these at the gym, you might be willing to trade best-in-class ANC for still very good ANC and a more workout-friendly design. Think about where you'll be using your earbuds, and what kinds of noise you're looking to drown out. Sealed versus open Most noise-cancelling earbuds have soft silicone tips that form a tight seal in your ear, like the AirPods Pro. But what if you hate things that go deep in your ear? While you may have been out of luck in the past, newer options like Apple's AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and the Galaxy Buds 3 manage to deliver very serviceable ANC within a more breathable design that's akin to the old-school AirPods. Consider your budget Budget is always a factor when buying any pair of earbuds or headphones, and fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice ANC just because you're looking to spend less than $100. While cheap noise cancelling headphones used to be rare (or just not very good), models like our top pick in the EarFun Air Pro 4 offer some very reliable noise suppression for $50 to $60. That said, paying up generally gets you even better ANC, sound and build quality. Compatibility matters The best pair of earbuds is often the one that works the best with all of your gadgets, and that remains the case with ANC earbuds. Sure, the AirPods Pro will technically work with an Android phone (and let you switch sound modes via on-ear controls), but you'll be missing out on most of their key features. Certain buds from brands like Sony and EarFun support high-resolution codecs for even better audio, but you'll need a compatible Android phone for those. If you use a mix of Apple and Android devices, we find that Beats' headphones are the most platform-agnostic of the bunch. Sony WF-1000XM5 Sony's latest flagship headphones offer a plethora of premium features alongside up to 24 hours of battery life. Read our review The Sony WF-1000XM5 are our favorite overall true wireless earbuds, and are really dang good at noise cancellation. They beat Bose by a few hours on battery life and have slightly better sound quality, and while they're similarly expensive, they also go on sale often. You really can't go wrong with either pair of buds if you want something best-in-class, but in terms of sheer ANC quality and customization, the QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra manage to squeeze ahead. It doesn't hurt that we find Bose's Immersive Audio a little easier to use than Sony's 360 Reality Audio. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 The sequel to some of the most popular earbuds ever introduce a sleeker design and heart rate monitoring. Read our review A great alternative to our top workout pick, Beats' Powerbeats Pro 2 improve on the company's wildly popular clip-on earbuds with a slimmer design, better audio quality and, most notably, active noise cancellation. They even have the unique ability to monitor your heart rate, which is great for getting some extra workout insights without having to wear a fitness tracker. We wish the ANC was a little stronger and prefer the Beats Fit Pro's less obtrusive design, but these are still an excellent choice who want the added security afforded by their ear clip design. Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation The standard AirPods get active noise cancellation for the first time with this model, which also tout great sound quality and wireless charging. Read our review The ANC version of 2024's AirPods 4 offer shockingly good noise suppression for a pair of open-style earbuds that don't lodge deep into your ear like many of the other options on this list. In fact, they're not that far off from what you get from the AirPods Pro 2, and have a cheaper retail price to boot. We still prefer the AirPods Pro's overall fit and quality, but these are a very good alternative if you want something more breathable. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II The second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds feature deeply adaptive and customizable ANC and three sets of swappable ear tips and stability bands for finding a good fit. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are only a year older than our top pick in the Ultra, and they're still a good buy if you want Bose quality on a tighter budget. Their excellent active noise cancellation is pretty much on par with what you get from the Ultra, complete with great sound quality, tons of features and dependable battery life. If you're an audio enthusiast that wants access to perks like 360-degree Immersive Audio and high-quality lossless support (not to mention a slightly nicer look), you may want to spring for the Ultra. For everyone else, the basic QC buds still hold up well today. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Samsung's latest premium earbuds take on a decidedly different design while offering customizable ANC and some exclusive perks for Galaxy phone owners. Read our review Samsung's latest flagship earbuds take an interesting new direction, ditching the smaller, more discreet designs of old in favor of something that just looks like AirPods. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer dependable noise cancellation for Android users, though we didn't find its Adaptive mode (which is meant to adjust between ANC and ambient passthrough on the fly) to be very reliable. Samsung also deserves props for managing to squeeze some noise cancellation into the cheaper, open-style Galaxy Buds 3. However, the buds' unreliable controls, throwaway AI features and polarizing design mean that all but the most hardcore Samsung enthusiasts can look elsewhere. What is the difference between noise reduction and noise-canceling? What is the difference between noise reduction and noise-canceling? Earbuds with active noise cancellation use built-in microphones to actively counteract any ambient noise reaching your ears, whereas earbuds with basic noise reduction (sometimes known as passive noise cancellation) simply reduce outside noise due the physical seal they form in or around your ear. Why can I still hear things with noise cancellation on? Why can I still hear things with noise cancellation on? Even the best noise-canceling earbuds and headphones don't quite block 100% of the noise around you; there's only so much sound that your ANC earbuds can detect and and drown out. That said, there are a few things you can do to make sure you're getting the best noise suppression possible. For starters, you'll enjoy much better ANC if your earbuds are forming a tight, secure seal within your ears, so make sure to try out the different ear tip options that come with your buds in order to achieve that fit. Secondly, you'll want to check out your earbuds' settings via their respective companion app; Some of them (like Bose's) offer multiple levels of noise cancellation, while others (like Apple's) offer modes that switch between ANC and Transparency on the fly. If you're using an adaptive mode like that, you may not be getting the maximum noise cancellation that your earbuds can provide. Are noise-canceling earbuds as good as earplugs? Are noise-canceling earbuds as good as earplugs? Noise canceling earbuds and earplugs are two very different types of products. A good pair of ANC buds will generally block more noise than a set of earplugs, because they're using microphones to analyze and counteract the sound around you. Meanwhile, earplugs rely on the natural noise reduction that simply comes with having a snug piece of foam or silicone in your ear. Earplugs are also usually much cheaper. The downside to noise-canceling earbuds is that if they run out of battery, so does their active noise cancellation; earplugs are generally analog products that you can wear all day. In short, pick up noise-canceling earbuds if you want to listen to music while also drowning out noise. If you want to simply lower the volume a bit when you're at a live event or traveling, go with earplugs. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been covering reviewing headphones and earbuds for more than a decade, is rarely seen without something in or on his ears. Right now his desk is alone is littered with far more wireless earbuds than any one person should have.