Skip to main content

Corning dismisses sapphire screens, says Gorilla Glass 3 is still the best way to protect gadgets

gt advanced technologies sapphire screen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Corning’s Gorilla Glass has long been considered to be the strongest and most protective glass cover for our mobile phone screens, but recently, sapphire has emerged as the “dream” material which will put an end to scratched, cracked and shattered displays. Corning, which doesn’t make sapphire screens, has published an article which hits back at this belief, saying its new Gorilla Glass 3 does everything sapphire does, and more.

Jeffrey Evenson, one of the company’s senior vice presidents, attacks the notion that sapphire is the, “Obvious solution,” for strengthened display coverings. He says, “What would people say if a cover was invented that was about half the weight, used 99 percent less energy to make, provided brighter displays, and cost less than a tenth of sapphire?” He continues, “It so happens that Corning has already invented that cover, and it’s called Gorilla Glass.” While sapphire is harder to scratch than Gorilla Glass,

Corning says it is 67 percent heavier per unit volume, more difficult to process the thinner it gets, and, “Transmits about six percentage points less light and may produce optical distortions.” He also claims Gorilla Glass can withstand three times the force needed to break sapphire, and both panes had similar levels of wear and tear after tests.

Sapphire
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Another VP, James Steiner, who manages Corning’s Specialty Materials division, comments on sapphire’s green credentials. “Sapphire’s cost and environmental hit are huge issues,” he is quoted as saying, before adding that Gorilla Glass, “Can be recycled using standard programs.”

Corning isn’t always so forthcoming on sapphire’s abilities

During Mobile World Congress, we caught up with GT Advanced, a company which manufacturers sapphire products, which was keen to promote sapphire as the next big thing in mobile screen tech. Mobile editor Jeffrey Van Camp tested out a sapphire screen against one made from Gorilla Glass and wrote, “I was easily able to scratch the Gorilla Glass, and shatter it, but couldn’t make a mark on the sapphire.” Interestingly, GT Advanced stated its panels were three times stronger than Gorilla Glass. We approached Corning for comment at the show, but were told no representatives were available to discuss the differences.

Gorilla Glass 3, Corning’s latest version, made its debut at CES 2013 and has subsequently been installed on the Samsung Galaxy S4, and will shortly appear on the Asus Zenbook Infinity Ultrabook. Corning says it has something called Native Damage Resistance and is even more resistant to scratches than before. Future versions of Gorilla Glass are being worked on which will improve screen performance in direct sunlight, and add an antimicrobial layer to kill germs and bacteria.

Sapphire screens are currently used by Vertu on its luxury phones such as the Vertu TI, however it’s usually found covering the faces of luxury watches. Corning does produce sapphire products, but primarily for the military. In an effort to prove Gorilla Glass can match and exceed sapphire glass’s toughness, Corning has produced the very brief video you can see below.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Best OnePlus 11 deals: Save $100 on the Android phone
The OnePlus 11's screen.

If you're an Android fan who's looking for phone deals, you can't go wrong with the OnePlus 11. The smartphone is among the most popular choices in the market right now, and if you're interested, we've rounded up the top sources for discounts when buying the mobile device. It's highly recommended that you hurry with your purchase from your chosen retailer or carrier though, because these offers may change sooner than you think.
OnePlus 11 deals at OnePlus

You can currently buy the OnePlus 11 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $600 from OnePlus, down $100 from its original price of $700, while the OnePlus 11 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is on sale for $650, for savings of $150 on its original price of $800. Buying from OnePlus gets you a free gift -- the OnePlus Buds Z2 wireless earbuds.

Read more
Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals: Save big on the foldable
A person holding a partially open Galaxy Z Fold 4.

With the launch of its predecessor, it's the best time to hunt for discounts on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. It's not going away any time soon because it's still a very fun and capable mobile device, so there will be a lot of demand for savings when buying the foldable smartphone. We've gathered the top ways of getting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 for cheaper than usual, but you'll have to hurry with your purchase because these offers may disappear at any moment.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Samsung
The obvious source for a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is Samsung, which is offering trade-in credit of up to $725 for an unlocked 256GB model of the smartphone that normally costs $1,800. However, you can get it at $800 off, so you'll only have to pay $1,000, if you buy it with a U.S. Cellular plan.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Amazon
The unlocked 256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on Amazon for its retail price of $1,800, but why would you get that model when the unlocked 512GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is cheaper at just $1,450, following a $470 discount on its original price of $1,920? It's a no-brainer to go for the version with the larger storage capacity when it's more affordable.

Read more
Best iPhone 15 deals: How to get Apple’s latest iPhone for free
The display on a green iPhone 15.

The iPhone 15 has only just hit stores but that hasn't stopped there being some great iPhone 15 deals going on right now. If you're keen to upgrade to the shiniest of new iPhones, this is your chance to do so. We've picked out all the best iPhone 15 deals going on at the moment including how to get the phone for free. Here's what you need to know about iPhone deals on Apple's latest model.
iPhone 15 deals at Amazon

Amazon has one of the best ways to get an iPhone 15 for free. Sign up to Boost Infinite and you get the Apple iPhone 15 for free. That saves you the $830 you'd normally pay, while Boost Infinite costs $60 per month and gives you unlimited talk, text, and data every month. It's a near-unbeatable deal for many people.

Read more