How come cell phones can't have matte display?

[kyrax12]

I can barely use my phone outdoors.

 

[Crono]

Consumers like shiny.

It also might be an oleophobic coating that makes the glass glossy. Plus nearly all phones use Gorilla Glass or actual glass for touchscreens, and not the flexible and delicate plastic often used for matte, non-touch computer monitors.

It's possible to have matte finish on touch screens, though. I can't think of any on smartphones, but there are laptops with matte touch.

 

[paperwastage]

i always put a matte screen protector on my phone and tablet... (typically use Nillkin)

i prefer matte over glossy, but it looks like we don't have much of a choice

 

[Roland00Address]

It is harder to make an invisible touchscreen layer on a matte screen that looks good. There are many engineering problems due to the difference between glossy and matte and the optics and structure of the clear material you are using. Make glass matter and often it looks blurry or foggy.

Plastic is another matter but then again most plastic touchscreens suck.