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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

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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.

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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.

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Robert Nazarian
Robert Nazarian
Former Digital Trends Contributor
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