Anti-reflective technology on Surface for Business devices

Microsoft

Oct 04, 2024

Surface devices are crafted to deliver a premium and versatile experience, whether you're working from home, in the office, or on the go. Each environment presents unique challenges for display readability, particularly due to reflections and glare from ambient light sources.

Based on feedback and extensive user testing, we set out to develop a solution to minimize unwanted reflections while maintaining the clarity and contrast of your display.

We wanted to design an experience that minimized distracting reflections and delivered on key experiences that our users expect including:

Integrating anti-reflective (AR) technology with touch and pen experiences without compromising responsiveness and accuracy.
Ensuring the durability of the AR technology and to protect against scratches, fingerprints and other environmental factors.
Maintaining the color fidelity and uniformity of the display across the entire screen and calibrating it to industry standards.
Optimizing the optical performance of the AR coating and avoid any interference with the IR and RGB cameras used for Windows Hello and other features.

In this blog post, we’ll explore these challenges in more detail and show how we addressed them with solutions in Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business.

What is anti-reflective technology?

There are different types of glare suppression technology, such as anti-glare and anti-reflective (AR) solutions.

Anti-glare technology works by creating a microscale uneven display surface, scattering light that hits the display, reducing harsh reflections and creating a matte finish.
Anti-reflective technology reduces the amount of light bouncing off the display by applying a thin coating that minimizes reflections. By minimizing reflections, anti-reflective technology can enhance the visibility and clarity of the screen content, especially in bright or variable lighting conditions.

Surface Pro 10 showing the results of AR coating on the right side

Benefits of anti-reflective technology on Surface Pro 10 & Surface Laptop 6

With Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, we sought to bring even more value to our commercial customers by adding AR technology to the displays. This new technology improved the experience in using our devices by delivering:

Improved readability: AR technology enhances display readability by reducing reflections and glare, making it easier to see in various lighting conditions—whether it's bright daylight, cloudy skies, office lighting, or at night in your bedroom or on an airplane. Readability largely depends on contrast, a key quality factor that we meticulously measure and optimize.
Enhanced color perception: By reducing the reflections and glare, anti-reflective technology improves the perceived color of the display, as the ambient light can alter the hue, saturation and brightness of the screen content. Color perception is another critical quality factor that we strive to deliver.
Compliance with regulations: Some organizations have specific regulations and standards that require the control of screen reflectivity to ensure the health and safety of the users and workers. By using anti-reflective technology, Surface devices can help meet these standards, contributing to a safer and more comfortable working environment.

Designing for innovation in anti-reflective technology

Designing the AR coating for Surface devices was not a simple task. We aimed to reduce reflections in a meaningful way without sacrificing picture quality and brightness or compromising the user experience. It involved multiple rounds of trials, tests and evaluations, with different suppliers, materials and processes. We had to consider many factors, such as the optical performance, the reliability, the process control, the yield and cost. We also had to consider the impact of the AR coating on the other components of the display, such as the black mask, IR ink, touch layers, polarizer, adhesives and the display panel itself.

We started by defining the target specifications for the AR coating, based on a benchmark analysis and user studies of multiple AR solutions. Our goal was to reduce overall reflectance by 50% and improve transmittance at the glass level. We also wanted neutral reflection for all light sources and a high transmission in the IR spectrum range for the Windows Hello feature. Balancing all aspects of the displays was essential for delivering a premium experience.

Once the target outcome was identified, we worked closely with our manufacturer to align their AR coating designs with our specifications and verify their performance at both the cover glass level and touchscreen display module (TDM) levels. We used different equipment and materials to deposit the AR coating on the glass surface. We also applied an anti-fingerprint (AF) coating over the AR coating to protect it from scratches and abrasion.

We measured and evaluated the optical and reliability performance of the AR-coated cover glass and TDM samples, using various methods. We assessed reflection color, reflection intensity and transmission as well as evaluating the impact of the AR coating on the IR ink and various cameras/sensors. Reliability tests such as abrasion, adhesion, chemical resistance, thermal shock, humidity and UV exposure ensured the AR coating met our quality standards. Finally, we conducted user studies and demos to assess the visual experience and gather feedback.

Results you can see

We’ve created an incredible experience that allows users to be more productive in almost any lighting condition.

Reduced reflections: Our advanced anti-reflective technology reduces reflections by up to 50%, making it easier to see your screen in bright light or even outdoors. This ensures that your work is always readable, no matter where you are.
Individually calibrated displays: Each Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 display is individually calibrated to minimize unwanted reflections while preserving exceptional picture quality. This attention to detail ensures touch and pen interactions remain precise and responsive, providing a seamless user experience.
Enhanced brightness and contrast: Surface Pro 10 features our latest PixelSense display, which is 33% brighter and boasts a 15% higher contrast ratio than its predecessor, the Surface Pro 9. With support for brightness levels ranging from 2 to 600 NITS, users can enjoy vibrant visuals in any lighting condition.
Certified excellence: Our displays have been certified by TÜV SÜD, a globally recognized testing and certification organization, to meet the stringent requirements of ISO 9241-307, which ensures high-quality display performance and user safety.¹
Eye comfort and longevity: To improve eye comfort, we’ve engineered the displays on Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 to reduce blue light exposure. This not only improves eye comfort but also allows users to work longer without experiencing eye strain. Our displays are certified by TÜV SÜD for their low blue light ratio, ensuring a healthier viewing experience.¹
Flicker-free experience: Additionally, our displays have been rigorously tested to be flicker-free, further enhancing eye comfort and reducing eye strain. This certification by TÜV SÜD underscores our dedication to user well-being.¹

At Surface, we are committed to creating premium hardware and experiences that enable our customers to work more efficiently and comfortably. The displays on Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business are not only stunning and responsive, but also designed to reduce eye strain, glare and reflections in any lighting condition. We achieve this by applying advanced anti-reflective technologies and by individually calibrating each display to ensure optimal picture quality. Our displays have been certified by TÜV SÜD for their flicker-free, low blue light and high-quality performance, demonstrating our adherence to rigorous industry standards.

With our displays, you can focus on what matters most, without being distracted or fatigued by your screen. For more information, head to the links below:

Make sure to subscribe to the Surface IT Pro Blog and come back to discover more about our innovative designs that boost productivity and elevate user experience.