Skip to main content

How does Motorola’s ShatterShield tech save your Droid Turbo 2’s screen from cracking?

Come concrete or tile, the Motorola Droid Turbo 2's shatterproof screen will survive

Earlier today, Motorola and Verizon Wireless unveiled the Droid Turbo 2. Like all previous Droid phones, the Droid Turbo 2 is as durable as it is powerful. However, the Droid Turbo 2 is very different than its predecessors — and all other smartphones, for that matter. It features something called Moto ShatterShield, which is the world’s first “shatterproof” display.

Motorola’s ShatterShield means that you never ever have to worry about your display cracking or shattering.

Recommended Videos

We have already seen a number of devices with durable displays, but none of them have been referred to as shatterproof. It means exactly what you think it means. Motorola says the Droid Turbo 2 is guaranteed to not crack or shatter when it hits the pavement or you drop it on a hard surface, which is an industry first. Of course, there are caveats to the claim — which we’ll get into in this post — but first, let’s look at the tech.

It’s a pretty amazing breakthrough, since Motorola claims a smartphone display cracks every two seconds, which amounts to more than 40,000 phones per day. More than one third of all smartphone owners have experienced a cracked or shattered screen at least once in their lifetime. Unfortunately, more than two thirds of those with shattered displays don’t bother doing anything about the damaged screen because of the hassle or expense.

ShatterShield shouldn’t be misinterpreted as a special warranty like Apple Care or Nexus Protect in that the manufacturer will give you a replacement if your device is cracked. Although it’s wonderful to have such a guarantee, the hassle of calling customer service and dealing with getting a replacement is a pain in the you know what. Motorola’s ShatterShield means that you never ever have to worry about your display cracking or shattering, which is a huge difference.

How it works

The ShatterShield display consists of five layers of material, all of which are proven to absorb shock from impact and maintain touch performance and structural integrity over the life of the device.

Motorola_Moto_ShatterShield_Layers_01
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Layer 1: Exterior Protective Lens – This protective layer includes a proprietary hard coat designed to guard against dents and abrasion. This layer is consumer-replaceable.

Layer 2: Interior Lens – It’s highly transparent and provides a clear protective shield that won’t crack or shatter.

Layer 3: Dual touch layer – This layer includes a total of two sub layers. A second layer resides under the primary touch-sensitive layer. If the primary touch-sensitive layer is damaged from impact, the second layer will take over to maintain touchscreen performance.

Layer 4: Stunning AMOLED display – The AMOLED screen is flexible and can absorb shock while providing picture quality.

Layer 5: Aluminum chassis – The aluminum chassis provides structural integrity and durability.

Thanks to all these layers, the ShatterShield display can also withstand a broad range of environmental conditions such as adhesion, optical transmissivity, abrasions, and environmental chemicals.

Motorola’s limited warranty and caring for your device

Motorola guarantees the Droid Turbo 2 will not crack or shatter for up to four years. However, there are some caveats. Motorola is talking about “typical accidental drops that smartphone consumers experience.” This means drops from about 5 feet high, but not as high as skyscrapers. Motorola also advises that you keep your Droid Turbo 2 away from sharp objects that could potentially scratch the display.

In the event that you do accidentally drop the phone, it’s possible that cosmetic damage might occur on the display. This cosmetic damage will likely be limited to the first layer, which is the consumer-replaceable protective lens. Motorola does not cover the cost of a new one, but stresses that it should always be in place to prevent scratches and other damage to the remaining layers. You can order a replacement ShaterShield lens directly from Motorola.

In regards to the rest of the phone, Motorola obviously won’t guarantee that it can’t be scratched or damaged, so that’s why it is recommended that you still use a case and take care not to throw it around too much.

You can check out Motorola’s website for more information.

Robert Nazarian
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Robert Nazarian became a technology enthusiast when his parents bought him a Radio Shack TRS-80 Color. Now his biggest…
The Google Pixel Tablet is way more enticing when this deal is applied
Someone holding the Google Pixel Tablet outside. Its screen is turned on.

The Google Pixel Tablet has had a rough go of it. In the past half year we learned of a Google Pixel Tablet 2 that seems to have died in conception, which could very well mean that the original Pixel Tablet will be the last of its kind, at least until a revamp of the line inevitably comes out.

Even the original seemed too confusing at its high original price. But now the price for the tablet alone is $399 and, after a $100 discount, the tablet is down to just $299. Though obvious from a mathematical standpoint, there's a lot psychologically going on when you drop the price from $399 to $299. This is one of those tablet deals that gives a product an entirely new perspective — and others, too, as stock is already limited on Amazon. So, that's what we need to ask, is the Pixel Tablet worth buying now that it is heavily discounted?

Read more
Boox puts stylus support on its new Android tablets with a paper-like screen
Taking notes on the Boox Go 7 e-reader.

Over the past couple of years, Boox has emerged as one of the most ambitious brands in a segment where Amazon’s Kindles have been the go-to choice. The brand makes monochrome and color E Ink devices in a variety of form factors, from the phone-like Palma and compact tablets to ambient-lit slates and monitors.

The latest from Boox are the Go 7 and the second-gen Go Color 7 tablets. Their biggest draw is stylus support, allowing them to double as a digital diary built atop Android. Complementing the pen support is the fantastic Notes app, which offers a ton of features such as pre-made and custom templates, brush variations, handwriting recognition, and more. 

Read more
I swapped my camera for a game controller, and became a better photographer 
DT OuttaFocus: I swapped my camera for a game controller, and became a better photographer 

I don’t trust my photographic instincts, and my life doesn’t always afford me the time to go out and hone them and experiment with my camera. If you have a similar problem, I may have found a way around all this. It requires nothing more than sitting in your living room holding a video game controller. It’s a game called Lushfoil Photography Sim, and it’s like a set of training wheels for your camera. 

How does it help? 

Read more