Nano–texture glass

What exactly is this tiny cutting–edge tech?

- CARRIE MARSHALL

HOW IT WORKS

YOU WILL LEARN

Why nano–texture glass is a clever way to reduce reflections

APPLE MAKES IT CLEAR THAT CLEANING NANO–TEXTURE GLASS ISN’T A SUITABLE JOB FOR THE LIKES OF WINDEX

KEY FACT

Instead of coating glass to make it less reflective, which is the standard way of cutting glare on everything from displays to spectacles, nano–scale glass etches lots of tiny lines into the display. Just be careful with it: Apple strongly advises against using any kind of cleaning cloth other than the special one that it includes with the Pro Display XDR or iMac.

When Apple unveiled the Pro Display XDR, it also introduced a new kind of screen technology. But it wasn’t a new kind of LED lighting or a new image processor. It was glass. Very, very expensive glass: an extra $1,000 on top of the $4,999 price tag.

Apple calls it nano–texture glass and it’s also available in the latest 27–inch iMac, where it’s a $500 extra. So what does it do, and why would you want it?

GLASS! AH–AHHHHH!

For many years, Mac laptops had matt screens, but the popularity of the iPhone and of PC laptops with glossy screens helped persuade Apple that glossy displays were the way forward. Speaking in 2006, Apple portables product director Todd Benjamin said having a glossy display “means colors are much richer — they look great,” and that they were particularly good for watching DVDs. They also looked more exciting in retail environments.