Specialist glass maker Corning announced a stronger version of its Gorilla Glass for smartphones. Corning said that the new glass can withstand drops 80% of the time from heights as high as 1.6 meters. The Gorilla Glass 5 is said to be twice as good at resisting scratches and other damages compared to other glasses in the market.
In a demonstration for journalists, dummy phones were dropped on a rough surface from a height of 1.6 meters. Some phones survived more than 20 hard drops from the test.
However, Corning vice president and general manager John Bayne said that the test only showed the strength of the glass under controlled lab conditions. Bayne emphasized that Corning had no control over smartphone design and some models could be weaker depending on how manufacturers decide to design it.
Bayne also revealed they have been working with their closest customers on the new product. Smartphone giants like Samsung and Apple use Gorilla Glass for their devices. Corning’s glass is used in over 70% smartphone screens. “There’s tremendous interest in this product for obvious reasons,” Bayne said.
