Overview
- Apple introduced Ceramic Shield 2 on the iPhone 17 lineup with a claimed boost to scratch resistance and a built-in anti-reflective layer.
- Astropad’s measurements indicate reflectivity of 2.0% on iPhone 17 Pro versus 4.6% with a typical protector, compared with 3.8% on iPhone 16 Pro.
- The company attributes the increased glare to AR coatings being tuned for contact with air, which a protector’s adhesive interrupts.
- Astropad advises using an AR-coated protector, including its Fresh Coat product, while other brands offer different features such as privacy or blue‑light filtering.
- Coverage flags Astropad’s commercial interest and notes that broad independent verification is still pending, so consumer recommendations remain provisional.