Mike Peterson
Long-time Apple supplier Corning has unveiled a new and much more durable version of its popular Gorilla Glass product, dubbed Gorilla Glass Victus.
In a YouTube video announcing the product, Corning says that smartphones equipped with Gorilla Glass Victus will be receive considerable improvements to both drop and scratch resistance over the previous Gorilla Glass 6 material.
For example, Gorilla Glass Victus was able to survive 2-meter drops in lab testing. In a Knoop Diamond Scratch Test, it's able to withstand an 8 Newton Load — significantly higher than the average 2 to 4 rating for competing glasses.
Of course, the glass won't be invulnerable to scratches, particularly when a device is in a pocket with bits of sand or metal. While Corning's Jaymin Amin admitted that harsh environments could still cause a scratch, he said that Gorilla Glass Victus would "reduce those instances quite dramatically."
Interestingly, Amin told The Verge that at least one manufacturer realized that Gorilla Glass Victus' improvements over Gorilla Glass 6 could lead to thinner devices. That unnamed manufacturer said it's opting to put a thinner layer of the new glass, instead of maximizing durability.
Apple uses Gorilla Glass in its devices, and Corning has been the recipient of Apple's Advanced Manufacturing Fund.
Samsung will be the first device maker to introduce a product with Gorilla Glass Victus, with a new device coming "in the next few months." There's no word on when Apple will adopt it for iPhone.
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20 Comments
I'd prefer more durability so I can stop buying screen protectors and cases.
Every new version is billed as being much more durable. But guess what, they break just about as much. Resistance to breakage is more do to the design of the phone itself, with the rubber gasket IG protecting the glass from sudden shock, and whether the glass will hit something directly when dropped.
my iPhone 11 Pro back glass cracked effortlessly, the front has scratches all over it. Yet, it has never been dropped. I strongly suspect my glass is from a previous iPhone can't possibly be 11 Pro glass. If this new glass is as good as it claims then all the better.
Same story every year. Same result every year. Broken/cracked/scratched screens for so many of my friends. I'm pretty lucky and have never dropped my iPhone. Fingers crossed.