iPhone 6 : Gorilla Glass to Sapphire

With the news of iPhone coming in two screen variants 4.7in and 5.5in, there is a lot to talk about.
We can see a huge quantity of leaked and rumored images over the internet of what the iPhone 6 is supposed to be. Lets take a look at whats sure and whats not for the new iPhone 6.

Observing the current trend, a larger display and a better battery life is most desirable feature among all what is needed.

But one thing for sure , iPhone 6 is ditching its older Corning Gorilla Glass and coming with a brand new Sapphire display.

Sapphire is generally used in high end watches and camera lenses. Apple has already included sapphire in home button and camera lens of 5S. This time they want to give a crystal clear display by using Sapphire on the screen.

Because of the remarkable hardness of sapphires—9 on the Mohs scale (the third hardest mineral, right behind diamond at 10 and moissanite at 9.25) , sapphires are used in some non-ornamental applications, including infrared optical components, such as in scientific instruments; high-durability windows; wristwatch crystals and movement bearings;

Out of all the rumors over the internet , this one is probably true as the series of patents acquired by Apple over the last one year clearly states the use of sapphire crystal in the future iDevices. The first news dates back to 20th March 2013 on patently apple.

Some of the main news and  patents from 2013 - 2014 are :

• Apple may Shift to Sapphire Crystal Glass for Future iDevices

• Apple Invents a Fusion Process that Will Add a Sapphire Laminate Layer to iPhone, iPad & Future iWatch Cover Glass

• Killer Patent: Apple Reveals Sapphire Flexible Transparent Display Devices Created with Liquid-Metal

• Foxconn Successfully Tested Sapphire Covers for Future iPhones

• Apple Reveals Laser Cutting Techniques for Processing Sapphire

• Apple's Invents Sapphire Growth Systems

• Apple Reveals More Details of their Future Sapphire Cover Glass 

• Apple Invents a New Ion Implant Methodology to Embed their Logo into Next-Gen Sapphire Cover Glass

 

 

Corning's take on GTAT Sapphire 

Apple's premier glass supplier is Corning and Apple's iPhone has been using Gorilla Glass from day one. On page 472 of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, we read: "We produced a glass that had never been made," stated Corning's CEO Wendell Weeks. This is what Steve wanted for the iPhone.

After the much speculation of  use of sapphire , Corning dismissed sapphire screens and began to point out potential problems with its manufacture, posting an article that claimed "sapphire not seen as major threat". 

He pointed out "Sapphire certainly is hard – harder to scratch than Gorilla Glass – but transmits about six percentage points less light and may introduce optical distortions.  Sapphire is also 67 percent heavier than Gorilla Glass per unit volume, difficult to process (especially at the thinness of Gorilla Glass) and costs significantly more to produce."  

Based on Corning’s own durability tests, we believe that in normal mobile phone use, sapphire would break more easily than Gorilla Glass – especially if sapphire is used at the same thinness as Gorilla Glass.

 

Apple is mostly quiet on this topic but we all know about the deal that was penned with
GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) to supply “sapphire materials” for component manufacturing at Apple’s new Arizona plant.

Founded in 2006 with a current market cap of $2.3 billion, GTAT is an obvious underdog and will be having tough competition with Corning, with a history that stretches back to 1851 and a current market cap of more than $27 billion, Corning is a proud company. It has lead the field in toughened glass since the 1950s.

Recently in a YouTube video by Marques Brownlee, we can see the front screen material of iPhone 6 made of sapphire and nearly un-scratchable and unbreakable. Go watch for yourself :

             

Enjoy !!!                                                                                                             AND THATS DONE !!