Hey there, tech-savvy folks! We're about to embark on a magical journey into the world of smartphone screens. You might be thinking, "Why on earth are we talking about something as mundane as smartphone glass?" Well, my friends, the glass on our beloved gadgets is like the comic character of the tech world - often overlooked but oh-so-essential!
Think about it: we carry our smartphones everywhere, and they've become an extension of ourselves. Yet, have you ever stopped to wonder what makes that shiny, fragile piece of glass on the front of your phone so darn important? And why does it seem to crack or shatter at the slightest provocation?
Well, hold onto your glass slippers, because we're about to dive deep into the world of smartphone screen materials, complete with all the knowledge you need to make the right choice for your next phone.
Glass, Glass All Over
Why do we choose glass to make the screens of our smartphones, when it seems so fragile? Well, folks, the cost is a major factor. Glass is cheaper to make than the other high-quality materials that are fit to make screens (say, transparent aluminum).
And while polycarbonate (plastic) is even cheaper than glass, it does not feel quite as premium, nor is it as clear (it keeps losing its clarity on exposure to the UV - ultraviolet - rays), and it gets scratched more easily. In fact, a thin layer of plastic may have been applied to the smartphone screen glass to keep it from shattering in abrupt shards.
Besides, while both glass and plastic are non-biodegradable, glass is recyclable without loss of quality, and it is manufactured from the bio-available materials like sand and limestone. This means less consumption of the raw materials. Its manufacturing involves less emission of greenhouse gas, and it is not harmful or toxic to us humans. As such, it is more environment-friendly than plastic.
Before moving on to our favorite brands of the smartphone screen glasses, a brief chemistry lesson is in order for a better understanding of their various properties.
The Ordinary (Annealed) Glass
Having settled the question of the material to use for making the smartphone screen, the manufacturers do their best to offer as much durability and longevity for the screen as possible. The ordinary (annealed) glass that you see around yourself is not used in the smartphone screens, for the reasons we shall describe in a bit.
The ordinary glass, after having been rendered into the shape it is supposed to assume, and while very hot, goes through a process known as annealing, under which it is cooled slowly, to make it less brittle and to minimize the internal stress that it develops during its shape shifting exercise. Annealing makes the glass more durable, so that it does not shatter on its own, or with the minimal stress introduced due to small temperature changes or mechanical shock. Properly annealed glass can be safely cut to the desired size and drilled to make holes in it.
This ordinary (annealed) glass is not very tough or scratch-resistant. And is it very unsafe when broken, as it shatters into shards that are sharp and irregularly shaped, because it has next to no internal stress. These are some properties that you most likely do not want in your smartphone screen. It is hardly surprising then, that the ordinary glass is not used for making the smartphone screens.
The right material for that purpose is a form of the tempered (aka toughened) glass, viz, the chemically strengthened glass. In this glass, the outer surface is in the state of compression, while the interior is under tension. This imparts strength to the glass. Also, when broken, the glass is less likely to cause serious damage and injury, as it shatters into granular chunks.
Float Glass
The float glass is made in the form of a sheet by floating molten glass (heated to a temperature of about 1500 °C, then reduced to about 1200 °C once molten) on a bath of a molten metal (typically tin) of low melting point. The raw materials used for the float glass are the same as those used for the ordinary glass, namely, sand, soda ash, limestone, etc. The glass floating on the tin surface forms a ribbon-like shape with uniform thickness and very flat surfaces on both sides.
Later, when the glass sheet has been taken off the metal bath, it is annealed by gradually cooling, and finally cut by machines.
The float glass is a high quality glass that does not require additional polishing. It can be used for further treatment for making tempered glass and some other forms of glass.
Tempered (or Toughened) Glass: The Bulletproof Vest for Your Phone
The tempered glass is what is used in the side and rear windows of the passenger vehicles (the windshield is made of laminated glass), refrigerator trays, and mobile screen protectors, among a host of other things. The tempered glass screen protectors add an extra layer of protection to your phone. Slap one on, and your screen will thank you. It imparts excellent impact protection and scratch resistance to your screen without compromising touch sensitivity.
Tempered glass is made by either thermal treatment of the ordinary (annealed) glass, or by its chemical treatment (this latter we shall take up in the next section). When we say tempered glass sans any qualifier, it usually means the glass tempered by thermal treatment.
In both the methods, the glass is cut into the desired size first (before its thermal or chemical treatment), as the tempered glass cannot be cut, ground, or drilled (this will cause damage to the glass, the consequences of which, such as fracture of the glass, would be seen immediately or after a long time of use).
In the first method (thermal tempering), the annealed glass is heated up to a uniform high temperature (around 700°C), immediately followed by rapid cooling by blasts of air at high pressure uniformly and simultaneously on both sides of the surface.
Since the outer surface cools down much more rapidly than the interior of the glass, this process creates compression in the outer surface, whereas the interior of the glass remains in tension as it tries to pull back from the surface. The result is 4 to 5 times greater mechanical strength, superior protection against impacts, and relatively less damage in case of breakage.
However, one disadvantage of the thermally treated glass is that, due to the extreme variations of the temperature during the treatment, it can develop bow or warp, or optical distortion. This is especially true for thin sheets like the smartphone screens. The chemically strengthened glass does not have this problem.
Chemically Strengthened Glass
Chemical strengthening is a far more costly affair of tempering the glass than the thermal treatment. But the chemically strengthened glass is also much stronger and scratch resistant, and is therefore, the material of choice for making the smartphone screens, since a smartphone is often kept in the pocket, purse, or bag with the other items that may scratch its screen, such as keys, coins, etc.
The chemical tempering of the glass is carried out by submersing it in a bath of a molten potassium salt (commonly potassium nitrate) at about 300 °C, wherein the sodium ions on the surface of the glass are replaced by the potassium ions from the salt. Since the potassium ions are larger than the sodium ions, when they fill the voids left by the sodium ions, this causes the surface of the glass to be under compression, whereas the interior comes under a corresponding tension to compensate the force. This is what imparts the chemically strengthened glass its strength.
UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass): Sturdy Yet Slender Hero
Using traditional glass for foldable displays presents a challenge. You see, glass, while elegant and scratch-resistant, lacks the flexibility needed for constant folding and unfolding. That's where innovation kicks in! Manufacturers have been experimenting with ultra-thin layers of glass combined with polymers, creating what's often referred to as "UTG" or Ultra-Thin Glass.
UTG provides the durability of glass while being flexible enough to withstand the bending in foldable phones. While it's not entirely glass in the traditional sense, it strikes a balance between aesthetics, durability, and flexibility.
It plays a pivotal role in the world of foldable displays. However, it's not limited to just foldable displays; it's also used in various other devices where a thin, durable, and transparent material is needed. Think of it as the sophisticated cousin of traditional glass, engineered to be both slim and robust.
Manufacturing Process
Here is how the UTG is manufactured:
- Glass Production: UTG starts its journey as a regular glass sheet, which undergoes a series of specialized treatments and chemical processes.
- Chemical Strengthening: The glass is subjected to ion exchange processes, where large ions are replaced with smaller ones in the glass structure. This process, often involving potassium salts, creates compression layers in the glass, making it stronger and more resistant to cracks and impacts.
- Thinning: After strengthening, the glass sheet undergoes precision grinding and polishing processes to achieve the desired thinness. UTG is incredibly thin, often measuring just a few micrometers (μm) in thickness, making it suitable for foldable displays and other slim devices.
UTG is remarkably strong and resistant to shattering, making it ideal for foldable displays. Its enhanced durability ensures that the display can withstand the bending and folding motions without breaking or cracking, providing a robust and flexible screen for foldable smartphones and devices.
While not entirely scratch-proof, UTG offers better scratch resistance compared to traditional glass. The chemical strengthening process hardens the surface, making it more resistant to scratches from everyday items like keys or coins. However, like all glass materials, it's still vulnerable to scratches from harder substances, so it's advisable to handle your UTG-equipped devices with care.
Now, let us talk about the smartphone screen glasses that we know and love.
Gorilla Glass: The Hulk of Smartphone Screens
Let's start with the heavyweight champion, Gorilla Glass. This is a chemically strengthened glass, which is tough and (almost) unbreakable. It is made by Corning, and is found on many high-end devices. If you're prone to dropping your phone, Gorilla Glass is your knight in shining armor.
The Gorilla Glass is the market leader, included in billions of devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearables like smartwatches, designed and sold by over 40 different Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
In 1960, Corning worked on a "Project Muscle", wherein, within a few years, they developed a "muscled glass" marketed as Chemcor. In 2005, Corning started that experiment - on the chemically strengthened glass - again, seeking to make the glass thin enough for use in the consumer electronics. This mission was successful and the new iPhone launched in June 2007 had the glass screen made by Corning, though it was not called Gorilla Glass back then (Gorilla Glass was officially introduced in February 2008). Now, Corning makes glasses for a variety of phones and other consumer devices.
Starting with the first generation (version 1) announced in February 2008, the Gorilla Glass has seen many improvements in its strength and scratch resistance abilities, along with other properties (like reduction in reflectivity and fingerprint smudge). The version "Victus 2" (launched in November 2022) was first used in 2023 on the Samsung Galaxy 23 series of smartphones.
According to the manufacturer Corning, the Victus 2 "delivers improved drop performance on rough surfaces like concrete, while preserving the scratch resistance of Gorilla Glass Victus." From the same page, in lab tests, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 survived drops of up to 1 meter on a surface replicating concrete, and up to 2 meters on a surface replicating asphalt, and maintained scratch resistance up to 4 times better than the competitive aluminosilicate counterparts.
Corning Gorilla Armor
Corning, in collaboration with Samsung, produced the Gorilla Glass Armor - the "toughest, most scratch resistant, and most optically advanced Gorilla® Glass yet", according to Corning - first featured on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone. Compared to typical glass surface, the Gorilla Armor reduces reflectance by up to 75%, minimizing screen reflections and enhancing readability.
In Corning lab tests, the Gorilla Armor performed up to 3 times better on drop tests compared to competitive aluminosilicate cover glasses when dropped on to surfaces replicating concrete. Also, it demonstrated over 4 times more scratch resistance than competitive aluminosilicate cover glasses.
Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
In June 2024, Corning introduced the Gorilla Glass 7i, aimed at providing improved durability for entry-level and midrange devices. It comes with better drop protection and scratch resistance compared to other lithium aluminosilicate glasses from the competitors.
According to Corning, in its lab tests, the "Gorilla Glass 7i survived drops of up to 1 meter on surfaces replicating asphalt. Competitive lithium aluminosilicate glass from other manufacturers typically failed when dropped from half a meter or less. Additionally, Gorilla Glass 7i is up to 2 times more scratch resistant than competitive lithium aluminosilicate cover glasses."
For higher tier devices, like flagship smartphones, Gorilla Glass Victus and Victus 2 are more suitable choices, as they offer superior durability but at a higher price point.
Corning Gorilla Armor 2
On 2025-01-22, Corning introduced the Gorilla Armor 2, used for display protection on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. This is a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective glass ceramic cover material, combining superior toughness with excellent clarity on a smartphone display.
In Corning lab tests, Gorilla Armor 2 survived drops of up to 2.2 meters on a surface replicating concrete. (Alternative glass ceramic materials failed when dropped from one meter.) It also demonstrated over 4 times more scratch resistance than competitive lithium-aluminosilicate cover glasses with an anti-reflective coating.
Strengths of the Gorilla Glass: Gorilla Glass is incredibly durable and resistant to scratches (it has a protective coating), cracks, and damage. It can survive more drops than you'd like to admit. It is thin and light, but not fragile (it is very hard). It can be recycled.
Weaknesses of the Gorilla Glass: It is not entirely shatterproof, and it can still succumb to extreme impact.
Dragontrail Glass: The Agile Ninja
Dragontrail Glass is the agile warrior of the glass world. Known for its scratch resistance and durability, it's like a guardian for your touchscreen.
The Dragontrail Glass is made by the Japanese company AGC Inc., the largest glass company in the world. It is made by processing float glass for additional strength. It is known for being thin, light, strong, and scratch resistant, in addition to being shiny with superior texture.
The Dragontrail Glass has been used in many smartphones, especially those in a mid-tier price range. Example are Google Pixel 3A and 3A XL; Samsung Galaxy M10, M20, and M30s; Sony Xperia X Performance, Sony Xperia Z, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z5, and Z5 Premium.
Strengths of Dragontrail Glass: Exceptional scratch resistance and impressive durability, making it a reliable choice for those who want a tough screen.
Weaknesses of Dragontrail Glass: While it's durable, it's not completely immune to shattering upon severe impact.
Panda Glass: Making Waves
The Panda Glass might not be a household name yet, but in the realm of smartphone displays, it's making its name. Panda Glass is a product of the Chinese technology company Tunghsu Panda King Glass Co., Ltd. It is primarily made of alkali-aluminosilicate, which is a type of glass containing aluminum and silicon oxides. This composition gives it remarkable strength and durability, making it an excellent choice for smartphone displays.
Panda Glass boasts several properties that make it a top contender in the competitive world of smartphone screens. Its strength and toughness are outstanding, providing impressive resistance against impacts and scratches. This durability ensures that your device can withstand accidental drops and daily wear and tear without easily succumbing to damage.
Lower price makes up a strong point in favor of Panda Glass. Some manufacturers employ Gorilla Glass for their flagships and Panda Glass for their more affordable models. Panda Glass is also used for making screen protectors available for many smartphone brands, including iPhones.
Now, let's pit Panda Glass against its more well-known rival, Gorilla Glass. Both glasses are engineered to be tough, but they have their unique strengths:
- Durability and Damage Resistance: Panda Glass and Gorilla Glass are both highly durable, capable of withstanding a fair amount of abuse. However, specific durability tests might vary between brands and models, so it's essential to check individual device specifications for precise details. In general, Gorilla Glass is more durable and breakage resistant.
- Scratch Resistance: Panda Glass and Gorilla Glass are designed to be scratch-resistant, guarding your smartphone screen against minor scratches from everyday use. Generally speaking, Gorilla Glass wins in this department too.
- Flexibility and Thickness: Panda Glass is more flexible than Gorilla Glass. Generally, Gorilla Glass is 0.4 mm to 2 mm thick, whereas Panda Glass is less than 1 mm thick.
- Optical Clarity: Gorilla Glass has better optical clarity than Panda Glass.
- Popularity: Gorilla Glass holds a more significant market presence due to its early entry into the industry. It's widely used by various smartphone manufacturers, making it a household name in the tech world. Panda Glass, being relatively newer, is gaining traction and being adopted by an increasing number of devices, especially in the Asian market. In fact, as of the writing, it is probably the second most widely used protective glass - a position that belonged to Dragontrail a few years ago.
- Pricing: Pricing can vary based on manufacturers' agreements and bulk purchasing deals. Generally, Gorilla Glass has a slightly higher price tag due to its established reputation and widespread usage. Panda Glass, being a newer player, could offer competitive pricing to attract manufacturers looking for reliable yet cost-effective display solutions.
Both Panda Glass and Gorilla Glass have their merits, and the choice between them often depends on the specific needs and preferences of smartphone manufacturers. Whether your phone sports Panda Glass or Gorilla Glass, rest assured that you're in good hands - or rather, under a sturdy screen!
Kunlun Glass: The Huawei Edge
In the realm of smartphone displays, the battle for durability and clarity rages on. While Gorilla Glass and Panda Glass have long been the titans of the industry, Huawei steps into the arena with Kunlun Glass, promising a new era of toughness and elegance.
Kunlun Glass, named after a mythical mountain in Chinese folklore, is Huawei's proprietary glass technology. Its manufacturing process involves a fusion of silica and alumina, creating a robust glass with enhanced scratch resistance and impact resilience. The exact details of the production method are closely guarded, adding an air of mystery to this innovative glass.
Kunlun Glass boasts impressive durability, rivaling industry standards and providing enhanced protection against scratches and accidental drops. Its robust nature makes it a front-runner for users who prioritize the longevity of their devices.
This glass offers excellent clarity, ensuring a vibrant and immersive display experience. The optical properties of Kunlun Glass contribute to vivid colors and sharp visuals, enhancing the overall user experience.
The surface of Kunlun Glass is designed to be smooth to the touch, providing a seamless and enjoyable interaction with the smartphone screen. This feature adds a touch of luxury to the user experience.
One notable point about the Kunlun glass is that its availability may be restricted to Huawei devices. If you're a Huawei enthusiast seeking innovation, Kunlun Glass might be your perfect match.
Jurhino Glass: Another Glassy Contender
In the world of smartphone displays, where Gorilla Glass, Dragontrail Glass, Panda Glass, and Kunlun Glass long held sway, a new contender emerged - Honor's Jurhino Glass. This is a relatively recent entrant into the competitive world of smartphone display protection. Crafted to offer durability and resilience, it serves as the protective shield for the front and back of smartphones, ensuring a blend of aesthetics and sturdiness.
Manufacturing Process: A Fusion of Precision and Innovation
The production of Jurhino Glass involves a meticulous process that combines precision and innovation. Here's a glimpse into its manufacturing journey:
- Raw Materials: Jurhino Glass is primarily composed of a fusion of silica, alumina, and other proprietary materials, creating a robust substrate.
- Melting and Formation: The raw materials are subjected to intense heat, melting into a liquid form. This molten glass is then shaped into sheets, forming the basis of the smartphone display.
- Strengthening: The key to Jurhino Glass's durability lies in the strengthening process. Through techniques like ion exchange or chemical tempering, the glass undergoes a strengthening metamorphosis, enhancing its resistance to scratches and impacts.
- Coating: Anti-reflective and oleophobic coatings are applied to the glass surface, reducing reflections and preventing fingerprint smudges, respectively.
Characteristics of Jurhino Glass: Unveiling the Magic
Here are the characteristic properties of Jurhino Glass:
- Durability: Jurhino Glass is designed to withstand the rigors of daily use, offering robust protection against scratches, drops, and impacts.
- Transparency: With exceptional clarity, Jurhino Glass ensures that your smartphone display retains its vibrant colors and sharpness.
- Resistance: The glass is equipped with resistance against scratches, fingerprints, and smudges, maintaining a pristine appearance even after prolonged use.
- Thickness: Known for its slim profile, Jurhino Glass manages to provide robust protection without compromising on the sleek design of smartphones.
Now, let's pit Jurhino Glass against some of the stalwarts in the smartphone glass arena.
While Gorilla Glass boasts a solid reputation for durability, Jurhino Glass enters the scene with comparable strength. Both offer excellent scratch resistance, but Jurhino brings its unique set of characteristics to the table.
Known for its toughness, Dragontrail Glass faces stiff competition from Jurhino in terms of impact resistance. Jurhino's scratch resistance may tip the scales for users prioritizing a pristine display.
Another newcomer like Jurhino, Panda Glass emphasizes clarity and scratch resistance. Jurhino, however, aims to strike a balance between strength and sleek design.
Renowned for its exceptional hardness, Kunlun Glass finds a challenger in Jurhino, which brings a blend of strength and transparency that may appeal to a broader audience.
As with any technological advancement, the price of Jurhino Glass is a crucial factor. While it might not be the cheapest option, the balance it strikes between durability and affordability makes it an attractive choice for users seeking a reliable and cost-effective display protection solution.
In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphone technology, Jurhino Glass emerges as a formidable player, bringing its unique set of characteristics and strengths to the table. As users continue to demand displays that are both robust and visually appealing, Jurhino Glass adds a touch of magic to the ever-expanding array of glass options for our beloved devices.
King Kong Rhinoceros Glass: Honor's Promise to Durability and Strength
The King Kong Rhinoceros Glass is a proprietary type of glass sourced by Honor specifically for its devices. It represents a significant advancement in protective glass technology for smartphone displays. Building upon the foundation of Honor's previous Jurhino nanocrystalline screen technology, King Kong Rhinoceros Glass offers enhanced scratch and drop resistance, boasting ten times the durability of its predecessors.
This advancement underscores Honor's commitment to pushing the boundaries of display protection, ensuring that users can enjoy peace of mind knowing that their device is equipped with a highly resilient screen.
In comparison to other industry-standard toughened glasses such as Gorilla Glass, Panda Glass, and Dragontrail Glass, Honor's King Kong Rhinoceros Glass appears to rival, if not surpass, their durability and resilience. The claim of ten times the scratch and drop resistance suggests that King Kong Rhinoceros Glass may offer superior protection against everyday wear and tear, accidental drops, and impacts.
The King Kong Rhinoceros Glass also passed the Swiss SGS multi-scenario standard with a five-star rating. SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) is a renowned multinational company that provides inspection, testing, certification, and verification services. The Swiss SGS multi-scenario standard refers to a comprehensive set of testing criteria designed to evaluate the durability and performance of smartphone displays across various real-world scenarios.
The ratings provided by the Swiss SGS multi-scenario standard indicate the level of performance and resilience demonstrated by the tested device. A five-star rating would suggest that the material excelled across multiple criteria, such as scratch resistance, impact resistance, and overall durability, earning it the highest level of recognition for its robustness.
In summary, Honor's King Kong Rhinoceros Glass represents a significant leap forward in display protection technology, offering enhanced durability and resilience compared to previous iterations. The endorsement of the Swiss SGS multi-scenario standard further reinforces the credibility of its claims, providing users with a reliable and durable solution for safeguarding their smartphones against everyday hazards.
NanoCrystal Shield Glass: A Standout in Display Durability
NanoCrystal Shield glass, much like King Kong Rhinoceros Glass, is Honor's proprietary type of protective glass used in smartphone displays. Its durability against drops and scratches matches that of the King Kong Rhinoceros Glass. This impressive resilience is attributed to the incorporation of a layer of silicon carbide within the display glass itself, which enhances its ability to withstand impacts and abrasions.
At a media preview event held by Honor, the NanoCrystal Shield glass on an upcoming Honor smartphone was subjected to rigorous testing, including attempts to scratch it with razor-sharp surgical instruments and dropping heavy objects onto it. Despite the onslaught, the glass remained unscathed, showcasing its remarkable durability and resilience.
Honor asserts that the NanoCrystal Shield glass has received a five-star SGS Glass Drop Resistance Ability Certificate in multiple scenarios. This certification underscores the glass's ability to withstand impacts and drops, further validating its position as one of the toughest displays in the smartphone market.
As for its comparison with the competitors, NanoCrystal Shield glass appears to offer superior durability compared to Gorilla Glass, as it is specifically engineered to be 10 times stronger against drops and scratches. While Gorilla Glass is renowned for its toughness, the NanoCrystal Shield glass's silicon carbide layer may provide an extra layer of protection.
Similarly, NanoCrystal Shield glass likely surpasses the durability of Panda Glass and Dragontrail Glass, thanks to its advanced construction and enhanced resistance to scratches and impacts.
Honor's own glass technology, King Kong Rhinoceros Glass, may share some similarities with NanoCrystal Shield glass in terms of durability. However, NanoCrystal Shield glass's incorporation of silicon carbide and its demonstrated performance in drop and scratch tests suggest that it offers even greater toughness and resilience.
In summary, Honor's NanoCrystal Shield glass sets a new standard for display toughness, offering unparalleled durability and resilience against drops and scratches. With its innovative construction and impressive performance in real-world testing, NanoCrystal Shield glass solidifies its position as one of the toughest display technologies available in smartphones today.
Asahi Glass: Crafting Brilliance
The glass from the Asahi Glass Corporation (AGC) isn't just any glass; it's the secret behind the stunning displays of some of the popular smartphones. Asahi Glass is a type of chemically strengthened glass, primarily composed of silica, soda ash, and lime. What sets it apart is the unique manufacturing process. The glass undergoes ion exchange, where it's immersed in a molten salt bath, allowing smaller sodium ions to be replaced by larger potassium ions. This process creates a layer of compression on the surface, enhancing its strength and durability.
Asahi Glass is celebrated for its impressive durability. The ion exchange process not only toughens the glass but also makes it more resistant to cracks and shattering upon impact, adding an extra layer of protection to your smartphone.
In the battle against scratches, Asahi Glass holds its ground. The chemically strengthened surface exhibits resistance to everyday wear and tear, ensuring your display remains crystal clear over time.
One of the defining features of Asahi Glass is its optical clarity. The glass maintains high transparency, allowing for vivid and sharp visuals. This is crucial for a device like a smartphone, where display quality is a top priority.
Where does the Asahi Glass stand before the competition? Well, Corning's Gorilla Glass is a formidable opponent. Known for its strength and scratch resistance, it's a popular choice for many smartphone manufacturers. Asahi Glass, however, boasts a unique manufacturing process that enhances its durability, potentially giving it an edge in specific scenarios.
Dragontrail Glass, developed by Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., is a sibling in the AGC family. It shares some characteristics with Asahi Glass but may have differences in the manufacturing process and specific applications. Both prioritize toughness but may vary in implementation.
Finally, Asahi Glass, with its innovative manufacturing process and stellar characteristics, is undoubtedly a frontrunner in the smartphone display arena. Its unique strengths make it a compelling choice for some smartphone manufacturers.
In the grand scheme of the glass showdown, Asahi Glass emerges not just as a material but as a testament to the constant evolution and refinement in smartphone display technology. Cheers to transparency, durability, and the brilliance of Asahi Glass!
Schott Alpha Glass: Strength Behind the Screen
Schott, a German multinational company, has been a key player in the glass industry for more than a century. Known for its precision and innovation, Schott has crafted glass solutions across various sectors, including optics, automotive, and electronics. In the realm of smartphones, Schott has made a bold entrance with its Xensation® α glass (also known as the Schott Alpha glass), setting new standards for durability and performance.
Schott Alpha glass is not your ordinary smartphone cover glass - it's a chemically strengthened lithium alumino borosilicate (LABS) marvel. The manufacturing process involves a meticulous fusion of lithium, aluminum, boron, and silicon, creating a robust glass composition. This chemically strengthened process enhances the glass's resistance to scratches, impacts, and daily wear and tear.
Here are the characteristic properties of the Schott Alpha glass:
- Durability: The chemically strengthened nature of Schott Alpha glass provides a high level of durability. It can withstand scratches and impacts, ensuring your smartphone screen stays pristine even in demanding conditions.
- Clarity: Alpha glass maintains excellent optical clarity, allowing for vibrant and sharp displays. This clarity enhances the user experience, making every interaction with the device visually pleasing.
- Chemical Resistance: The glass is formulated to resist chemicals, ensuring that common substances like fingerprints and oils are easily wiped away, keeping the screen clean and smudge-free.
- Precision Engineering: Schott's commitment to precision is reflected in the manufacturing process. The glass is engineered to precise specifications, ensuring a perfect fit for modern smartphone displays.
And how does Schott Alpha glass fare against its formidable competitors in the smartphone glass arena? Well, it competes head-to-head with Corning's Gorilla Glass. Both are chemically strengthened and designed for durability. The choice between the two often comes down to specific device manufacturers' preferences.
The Dragontrail Glass shares similarities with Schott Alpha in terms of strength and scratch resistance. And the competition between Panda Glass and Schott Alpha often boils down to the specific demands and aesthetic choices of smartphone manufacturers.
In this competitive landscape, Schott Alpha stands tall, offering a chemically strengthened LABS cover glass that competes with the best in the world. Its unique blend of durability, clarity, and chemical resistance positions it as a formidable choice for flagship smartphones, contributing to a premium user experience.
ArmorShell Glass
ArmorShell Tempered Glass is primarily marketed for its high durability and impact resistance. It is highlighted as providing an impact-absorbing design that enhances the device's ability to withstand shocks and drops. These properties position it as a solid choice for users seeking durability in harsh conditions, especially for outdoor or industrial environments.
While the competitors like Gorilla Glass are known for their scratch resistance and durability, ArmorShell focuses more on impact resistance, making it more specialized for rugged environments, whereas the other brands aim for broader protection and performance. Devices designed for tough environments (like those with ArmorShell or Kunlun Glass) cater to different needs than those emphasizing a sleek and scratch-free user experience.
ArmorShell is highly suitable for rugged smartphones with certifications for water, dust, and shock resistance. It fills a niche where drop and impact resistance are prioritized over scratch resistance.
Longxi Glass
Longxi Glass, a relatively newer player in the field of display protection materials, is a Chinese-manufactured product, specifically developed to offer strong durability while maintaining high clarity and tactile smoothness. It combines ion-exchange technology similar to that used by competitors like Corning's Gorilla Glass. This process enhances the glass's strength and scratch resistance by replacing smaller ions in the glass surface with larger ones, creating a more compressed and robust structure.
What sets Longxi Glass apart is its focus on optimizing for specific scenarios, such as enhanced drop resistance and edge durability, areas where traditional glass coatings can fall short. The second-generation Longxi Glass (Longxi Glass gen 2) incorporates refinements such as improved resistance to scratches and better overall shock absorption.
Longxi Glass differentiates itself through its regional manufacturing advantages and claims of improved durability, designed to meet the demands of the more clumsy among us. It is more affordable to the smartphone manufacturers than competitors like Gorilla Glass, which may explain its adoption in brands looking to offer premium durability without significantly raising costs.
Xiaomi Longjing Glass
Xiaomi Longjing Glass is a proprietary glass technology developed by Xiaomi, aimed at enhancing the durability and strength of smartphone displays. Named after the famous Longjing tea, known for its high quality and resilience, the Longjing Glass shares similar characteristics of robustness and reliability.
The manufacturing process of Xiaomi Longjing Glass involves several stages of refinement and tempering to achieve its desired properties. Initially, the raw materials are carefully selected and melted at high temperatures. The molten glass is then poured into molds and cooled to form sheets of glass. Subsequently, these sheets undergo a tempering process, where they are rapidly heated and cooled to increase their strength and resistance to impact. Finally, the glass is polished and coated to improve its scratch resistance and clarity.
Here are the characteristics of the Xiaomi Longjing Glass:
- Strength and Durability: Xiaomi Longjing Glass is renowned for its exceptional strength and durability, making it highly resistant to cracks and scratches even under extreme conditions.
- Scratch Resistance: The glass is treated with specialized coatings to enhance its scratch resistance, ensuring that the display remains pristine even after prolonged use.
- Clarity and Transparency: Despite its robust nature, Xiaomi Longjing Glass maintains excellent clarity and transparency, allowing for vivid and immersive display experiences.
- Smooth Touch Sensation: The glass surface is meticulously polished to provide a smooth and seamless touch sensation, enhancing the overall user experience.
Xiaomi Longjing Glass stands as a formidable competitor in the smartphone glass industry, offering exceptional strength, durability, and clarity. It aims to rival the performance of Gorilla Glass with comparable strength and enhanced features. Panda Glass is known for its high strength and scratch resistance, which Xiaomi Longjing Glass competes by offering similar durability and improved clarity.
Kunlun Glass focuses on enhancing display performance and durability, while Xiaomi Longjing Glass may offer comparable strength and additional features such as scratch resistance. Schott Alpha Glass emphasizes superior optical properties and durability, and Xiaomi Longjing Glass competes with it by offering similar optical clarity and enhanced strength.
In summary, while the Longjing Glass may share similarities with other prominent glass technologies, it distinguishes itself with its unique manufacturing process and proprietary features, making it a compelling choice for smartphone manufacturers and consumers alike.
Meizu Titan Glass
Meizu Titan Glass is the proprietary glass technology developed by the Chinese company Meizu. Its latest iteration as of the writing is Meizu Titan Glass 2.0, boasting enhanced durability and resilience compared to its predecessor.
Meizu Titan Glass is manufactured using a combination of specialized techniques and materials to achieve its desired properties. While the exact manufacturing process is proprietary information held by Meizu, it involves a combination of chemical strengthening, ion exchange, and precision engineering to create a glass that is both tough and scratch-resistant.
Meizu Titan Glass is known for its exceptional durability and ability to withstand drops, impacts, and scratches with ease. This makes it an ideal choice for smartphone displays, where resilience to daily wear and tear is paramount. This glass is designed to resist scratches and abrasions, ensuring that the display remains pristine even after prolonged use.
Meizu Titan Glass offers excellent optical clarity, allowing for vivid and sharp display images without compromising on screen quality. It is engineered to be smooth to the touch, providing a premium user experience and effortless navigation.
Here is how it compares with some of its competitors:
- Gorilla Glass: Corning's Gorilla Glass is perhaps the most well-known competitor to Meizu Titan Glass. While both offer excellent durability and scratch resistance, Meizu Titan Glass may offer unique properties and benefits tailored specifically to Meizu devices.
- Panda Glass: Panda Glass is another toughened glass technology used in smartphones. Like Meizu Titan Glass, it prioritizes durability and scratch resistance, although the specific characteristics may vary between the two.
- Kunlun Glass: This glass technology, developed by Huawei, is designed to provide enhanced strength and toughness. It shares similarities with Meizu Titan Glass in terms of durability.
- Longjing Glass: Longjing Glass, introduced by Xiaomi, is known for its scratch resistance and durability. While it competes in the same space as Meizu Titan Glass, differences in manufacturing and material composition give them varying performance characteristics.
Ultimately, the choice between Meizu Titan Glass and its competitors may come down to factors such as brand preference, device compatibility, and specific user requirements.
Sapphire Glass: The Gem of Screens
Ever heard of sapphires being used in watch crystals? Well, now they're on smartphones too! Sapphire Glass is incredibly hard and scratch-resistant, perfect for the clumsiest of us.
The Sapphire Glass is not really glass, it is a name given to the synthetic sapphire, which is made from aluminum oxide powder by subjecting it to very high temperature and pressure. It is synthesized in the form of large "boules", and subsequently drawn into thin sheets using something like a diamond saw. The Sapphire Glass has the physical properties of natural sapphire, and it is very transparent to the wavelengths of light from 150 nanometer (which falls under the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum) to 5500 nm (infrared). The visible light spectrum (between 380 nm and 750 nm) is fully covered by this range.
Because of its transparency, and because of the fact that it is extremely hard (it is the third hardest natural substance after diamond and moissanite), strong, durable, and scratch resistant, it is the ideal material for making the smartphone screens. However, it is very expensive and is brittle (so while it will resist scratching, it won't do as well in the drop or bending tests). This is part of a general trend (or compromise, you can say): If a substance is hard, it will have less give, and would be more brittle; while if a substance is somewhat softer, it will be less brittle but would scratch more easily.
The cost of production also presents a dilemma. Would an average consumer want to spend a higher price for more durability when the phone would likely be replaced within 2 or 3 years anyway? The rapid advancements in the smartphone as well as the cellular technologies means that it is not practical to think of keeping a phone for many years to come. It, therefore, seems like a good approach to spend just as much as necessary on a phone screen to keep it working for a few years, and then perhaps resell the phone at a good price.
Therefore, the Sapphire Glass has mainly been used for making the smaller parts of the smartphones, such as the covers of the camera lenses (as in case of Apple's iPhone 5 and 5S, the latter also had sapphire covering its TouchID sensor), though some luxury smartphones do have Sapphire Glass screens. The first production smartphone to have a sapphire screen was the Kyocera Brigadier, launched on the Verizon Wireless network in 2014.
Strengths of the Sapphire Glass: Virtually scratch-proof and exceptionally hard, offering top-tier protection for your screen. Watch this YouTube video showing Aero-Gear test a sapphire crystal against scratches by dragging a coarse concrete block over it - the sapphire did not develop visible scratches.
Weaknesses of the Sapphire Glass: It's more expensive to produce and can be more brittle than other options.
Ceramic Shield: Apple's Secret Weapon
Apple's weapon against screen shattering, Ceramic Shield is essentially ceramic particles (nanocrystals, so as not to interfere with the light waves) embedded in glass, making it incredibly tough. (Ceramic is harder than most metals.) Drop your iPhone (carefully, though), and you'll see the magic.
The Ceramic Shield is also manufactured by Corning (the maker of the Gorilla Glass) exclusively for Apple's iPhone range, and has been featured on iPhone 12 and later except iPhone SE (3rd generation). It is very tough and more resistant to cracks.
Strengths of the Ceramic Shield: Exceptional drop resistance, reducing the likelihood of shattered screens.
Weaknesses of the Ceramic Shield: Like any glass, it's not invincible and can still be damaged.
Crystal Armor Glass
Crystal Armor glass is a type of hardened glass designed for use in smartphones and other electronic devices, providing robust protection against scratches, impacts, and everyday wear and tear. This specialized glass is engineered to offer high durability and clarity, enhancing the overall user experience by maintaining the visual quality of device displays.
Crystal Armor glass is not as widely recognized as some of its competitors like Gorilla Glass and Panda Glass. Its manufacturing process involves selecting high-quality silica sand and other raw materials to ensure purity and consistency. The raw materials are melted at high temperatures in a furnace to form molten glass, which is then formed into sheets.
The glass sheets undergo a chemical strengthening process, where they are submerged in a potassium salt bath. This process allows potassium ions to replace smaller sodium ions in the glass surface, creating a layer of compressive stress that enhances strength and durability. The glass is cut to the desired dimensions and polished to achieve smooth edges and surfaces. An additional coating may be applied to improve properties such as scratch resistance, oleophobicity (resistance to fingerprints), and anti-glare capabilities.
Crystal Armor glass is engineered to be highly resistant to scratches and impacts, providing reliable protection for device screens. It maintains excellent optical clarity, ensuring that the display's visual quality is not compromised. The glass is often resistant to chemicals and environmental factors, contributing to its longevity.
Crystal Armor glass is a robust protective glass that offers high durability, clarity, and resistance to everyday wear and tear. While it may not be as widely recognized as Gorilla Glass or Panda Glass, it provides a reliable option for device manufacturers seeking to protect their displays. Compared to its competitors, Crystal Armor glass holds its own in terms of performance but may not have the same level of brand recognition and market presence.
Let us now learn how your smartphone screen can get damaged and what you can do about that.
Common Causes of Smartphone Glass Damage
So, why does your smartphone glass sometimes feel like it's made of tissue paper? Blame gravity, clumsiness, and hard surfaces. Here are some common culprits:
- Drops: Ever seen your phone do a graceful swan dive onto the pavement? That's a recipe for a shattered screen.
- Scratches: Pocket sand, keys, and coins can turn your screen into a scratched-up mess. It's like sending your phone through a sandpaper spa day.
- Impacts: Sometimes, life just throws things at your phone - literally. Whether it's a soccer ball or a toddler's toy, impacts can leave your screen in pieces.
How to Prevent the Drama
Here are some ways you can prevent the damage to your phone screen:
- Protective Cases: Get a sturdy case that can take a hit and keep your screen safe. Think of it as a suit of armor for your phone.
- Screen Protectors: Tempered glass or film, these are like the invisible shields of the smartphone world. They take the hit so your screen doesn't have to.
Check out our article on the smartphone protectors to know more about phone cases and screen protectors.
- Handle with Care: Treat your phone like it's made of glass… because it is! Be mindful of where you put it, and avoid those dramatic falls.
Repairing Smartphone Glass
Oops, it happened! Your screen is cracked. Now what?
- DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Kits: Feeling adventurous? DIY repair kits are available, but they're not for the faint of heart. One slip, and you might make things worse.
- Professional Repair Services: These are the fairy gods of smartphone screens. They know exactly how to fix that shattered glass, but it might cost a bit more.
In a world where we depend on our smartphones for everything from ordering pizza to finding our true love (thanks, dating apps), the importance of that humble piece of glass can't be overstated. It's time to show it some love, folks!
So, here's the takeaway: choose your smartphone glass wisely, protect it like it's the crown jewels, and if the worst happens, don't panic. There are ways to bring your shattered screen back to life.
Remember, in the grand tech fairy tale of life, your smartphone's glass may not turn into a pumpkin at midnight, but it sure can crack when it takes a tumble. Stay safe out there, and may your screens stay forever pristine!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the unbreakable smartphone glass that I can get?
No glass is really unbreakable. However, if you wish to get the hardest smartphone screen, your best bet is the any of the Gorilla Glass and the Ceramic Shield (iPhone exclusive). For a limited budget, you can go for the Dragontrail Glass.
If you have plenty of cash and need the hardest, most scratch resistant screen, nothing beats the Sapphire Glass.
How to remove scratches from smartphone glass?
There are DIY repair kits available, just search for them online or get one from your neighborhood store. However, you need to be careful while using them, as a little extra stress or a push at a slightly wrong point can cause more damage to the screen.
Alternatively, take your phone to a professional repair service. It would cost a bit more, but you have a high chance of getting your screen looking and shining like new.