Why it’s time to ditch Oleophobic Coatings

I am writing this to challenge a long-held industry standard that we have accepted for years: the oleophobic coating. (Please, dear support team, don't delete this. I am not blaming Apple for anything; I am trying to give feedback to make Apple products even better.)

Apple has always been a leader in environmental responsibility in the mass phone market, removing mercury, PVC, and BFRs from products. However, the display industry is still relying on fluoropolymers (PFAS family) to create the "anti-fingerprint" effect on our screens. While these coatings might be safe for the user to touch, their production and disposal contribute to the global accumulation of "Forever Chemicals." This time I am not talking about PFAS inside the phones, but the PFAS on top of our screens.

The Illusion of Cleanliness

We have created a paradox where we prefer chemical pollution over visual pollution.

We accept the use of persistent chemicals that burden our ecosystems simply because we are conditioned to find visible fingerprints "gross." But let’s look at the biology: A fingerprint is just lipids (sebum), proteins, and water. It is 100% natural, biodegradable, and harmless. And we put them on ANYTHING, but usually we just don't see it.

The "Bio-Lube" Alternative

I have conducted a personal experiment: I completely removed the oleophobic coating from my tempered glass screen protector using 99% isopropyl alcohol.

The initial result: The screen felt "grippy" because it was chemically naked.

BUT: After a short time of use, the screen became smooth again. Why? Because without the oleophobic (oil-repelling) layer, the glass becomes oleophilic (oil-loving). The natural oils from my fingertips spread evenly across the glass, acting as a natural, biological lubricant. If this sounds weird to us, then it is only because we are not educated about fingerprints being anywhere and totally harmless and PFAS being toxic for the environment. And the screen in my case is still perfectly visible if you clean it a few times a week.

The Conclusion

The screen glides perfectly fine using the body's natural oils. The only "downside" is that smudges are more visible.

But we leave fingerprints on books, doorknobs, and wooden tables without thinking they are "dirty." Only on the black mirror of a smartphone do we demonize our own biology.

It is time to educate consumers: A few visible smudges are a small price to pay for eliminating a class of persistent chemicals. And companies never tried to find out if customers wouldn't accept that (people blamed the first iPhone for being a fingerprint magnet, but they wouldn't have done that if they were educated about the "alternative"); they just forced a worse solution on us to hide what is natural.

Apple, please have the courage to phase out oleophobic coatings and advertise it as a feature, not a downside.

Thanks for your time.