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Does the iPhone 7 use Gorilla Glass 5?

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macrumors 601
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May 19, 2011
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Just a quick one as this is bugging me now.

Purely out of curiosity, I've been scouring the internet trying to find any specific information on the glass quality of the screen on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. I KNOW Apple use very touch glass on their devices and always have. But I'm looking to find out whether the iPhone 7 categorically has a tougher screen than iPhones before it, and if it's using the latest Gorilla Glass standard (5). I know Apple don't have sufficient rights to announce that the iPhone is using Gorilla Glass or something, but we know they do anyway.

So yeah. If anyone knows any of this for sure, that would be great. Seems impossible to find info on the iPhone glass right now!!
 
The question of whether or not the iphone uses Gorilla glass has been around for years. No one really knows for sure. What we do know is that Corning, the maker of Gorilla Glass, had almost no business until the iPhone came around.
 
Corning does all screens for Samsung and Apple (5 and everything after) however, not sure if IP7 and 7 plus are Gorilla Glass 5. The partnership is really not mentioned anywhere (contractual obligation), but it's a really bad kept secret.
 
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I definitely thought it was odd that I couldn't find any reference to it anywhere, Wiki, Corning or otherwise. But Corning do have a rather odd statement on their site which says that for contractual reasons they are unable to state some devices which do use Gorilla Glass. Just seems odd that Apple would keep something like that a secret, what do they benefit from that?
[doublepost=1486068737][/doublepost]
Newtons Apple said:
Apple, for reasons unknown, does not say who supplies the glass from what I have read.

What ever it is I am impressed with it's resistance to scratching.
Click to expand...

Yes. The screens are quite scratch resistance. Though I did have my 6 Plus naked for about a year and there were lots and lots of micro scratches on it by the end. But nothing you'd notice while the screen was on. My biggest issue with not using a screen shield tends to be natural hand oils and stuff, cause it tends to stay on glass and just never come off. So you get that 'slick' look on the glass after a few months.
 
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JarScott said:
I definitely thought it was odd that I couldn't find any reference to it anywhere, Wiki, Corning or otherwise. But Corning do have a rather odd statement on their site which says that for contractual reasons they are unable to state some devices which do use Gorilla Glass. Just seems odd that Apple would keep something like that a secret, what do they benefit from that?
Click to expand...

It could be a situation where they use Gorilla Glass, but not exclusively (perhaps Corning can't handle the entire order, or Apple doesn't want to rely on one manufacturer) so Apple doesn't advertise patented Gorilla Glass, Corning doesn't confirm it, and device users get a device with glass that meets specifications, but may or may not be patented Gorilla glass.
 
mikemj23 said:
Corning does all screens for Samsung and Apple (5 and everything after) however, not sure if IP7 and 7 plus are Gorilla Glass 5. The partnership is really not mentioned anywhere (contractual obligation), but it's a really bad kept secret.
Click to expand...

JarScott said:
I definitely thought it was odd that I couldn't find any reference to it anywhere, Wiki, Corning or otherwise. But Corning do have a rather odd statement on their site which says that for contractual reasons they are unable to state some devices which do use Gorilla Glass. Just seems odd that Apple would keep something like that a secret, what do they benefit from that?
[doublepost=1486068737][/doublepost]

Yes. The screens are quite scratch resistance. Though I did have my 6 Plus naked for about a year and there were lots and lots of micro scratches on it by the end. But nothing you'd notice while the screen was on. My biggest issue with not using a screen shield tends to be natural hand oils and stuff, cause it tends to stay on glass and just never come off. So you get that 'slick' look on the glass after a few months.
Click to expand...

mk313 said:
It could be a situation where they use Gorilla Glass, but not exclusively (perhaps Corning can't handle the entire order, or Apple doesn't want to rely on one manufacturer) so Apple doesn't advertise patented Gorilla Glass, Corning doesn't confirm it, and device users get a device with glass that meets specifications, but may or may not be patented Gorilla glass.
Click to expand...

Corning IS listed in Apple's list of suppliers here: http://images.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/pdf/Suppliers.pdf

Also, while I find it hokey to quote myself, this all but proves Corning is Apple's glass supplier: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...s-all-on-the-left-side.1921675/#post-21967131
 
Tech Fun said:
iphone 6s has Ion-X glass
Click to expand...

My theory is that Apple uses Corning glass for iPhone, but it is chemically different in some way than standard Gorilla Glass.

Apple has paid for custom stuff that differs slightly from what an OEM sells to other device makers. CPUs from Intel come to mind.
 
jbachandouris said:
The question of whether or not the iphone uses Gorilla glass has been around for years. No one really knows for sure. What we do know is that Corning, the maker of Gorilla Glass, had almost no business until the iPhone came around.
Click to expand...

Well their website says they've been in business for 160 years, so I'd say you are talking utter nonsense.

"For more than 160 years, Corning has applied its unparalleled expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and optical physics to develop products and processes that have created new industries and transformed people’s lives."

https://www.corning.com/emea/en.html
 
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jbachandouris said:
I LIVE in NY and know what they do. The point was that their Gorilla Glass manufacturing was almost nonexistent before the iPhone and other similar smartphones. No need to be rude.
Click to expand...

But that wasn't what you originally stated which is why he responded the way he did. Corning has been around for much longer than you probably think and doing business in multiple sectors successfully. Gorilla Glass is just a small niche of their business.
 
Whatever it is I'm disappointed. I have had my 7 since October and I just noticed a little quarter inch scratch that I can see when my screen is on. Also the screen is covered in micro scratches that I can see when the screen is off but those don't bother me. I had my iPhone 6 for over 2 years and it never got a scratch I could see when the screen was on. I'm very ridiculous with taking care of my things and only keep my phone in my empty pocket.

I do have apple care plus. I wonder if they would change a screen for $29 for some scratches or does it have to be broken? Just thinking about the future. I'm sure in a year or so this thing will be covered in scratches. I really don't like using screen protectors but I might have to start again.
 
"I definitely thought it was odd that I couldn't find any reference to it anywhere, Wiki, Corning or otherwise. But Corning do have a rather odd statement on their site which says that for contractual reasons they are unable to state some devices which do use Gorilla Glass. Just seems odd that Apple would keep something like that a secret, what do they benefit from that?"


Above is quoted from @JarScott and for some reason the quote button didn't work.

My guess would be that supply agreements in some instances are proprietary as they don't want others to know some of the technology they are using.
 
imagineadam said:
Whatever it is I'm disappointed. I have had my 7 since October and I just noticed a little quarter inch scratch that I can see when my screen is on. Also the screen is covered in micro scratches that I can see when the screen is off but those don't bother me. I had my iPhone 6 for over 2 years and it never got a scratch I could see when the screen was on. I'm very ridiculous with taking care of my things and only keep my phone in my empty pocket.

I do have apple care plus. I wonder if they would change a screen for $29 for some scratches or does it have to be broken? Just thinking about the future. I'm sure in a year or so this thing will be covered in scratches. I really don't like using screen protectors but I might have to start again.
Click to expand...
Many have said they feel the 7 is more scratch resistant than previous iterations. Your comment is possibly the first I've seen to the contrary.

Micro scratches are probably to the oleophobic coating and not to the glass itself. I understand that they're an eyesore and bothersome, but take that FWIW.

AC+ does not cover cosmetic damage, and scratches are considered cosmetic changes. There are several courses of action here. Some are honest, and others are less so.
 
JarScott said:
Just a quick one as this is bugging me now.

Purely out of curiosity, I've been scouring the internet trying to find any specific information on the glass quality of the screen on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. I KNOW Apple use very touch glass on their devices and always have. But I'm looking to find out whether the iPhone 7 categorically has a tougher screen than iPhones before it, and if it's using the latest Gorilla Glass standard (5). I know Apple don't have sufficient rights to announce that the iPhone is using Gorilla Glass or something, but we know they do anyway.

So yeah. If anyone knows any of this for sure, that would be great. Seems impossible to find info on the iPhone glass right now!!
Click to expand...
 
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JarScott said:
Just a quick one as this is bugging me now.

Purely out of curiosity, I've been scouring the internet trying to find any specific information on the glass quality of the screen on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. I KNOW Apple use very touch glass on their devices and always have. But I'm looking to find out whether the iPhone 7 categorically has a tougher screen than iPhones before it, and if it's using the latest Gorilla Glass standard (5). I know Apple don't have sufficient rights to announce that the iPhone is using Gorilla Glass or something, but we know they do anyway.

So yeah. If anyone knows any of this for sure, that would be great. Seems impossible to find info on the iPhone glass right now!!
Click to expand...
They do not, they use a combination of materials, however gorilla glass is not one of them.
 
I have both a iPhone 7 Plus (Personal) and a regular iPhone 7 (Work), I'm pretty convinced the Plus is made of a lower quality glass. I got both phones around the same time and my Plus screen was scratched up in a month, while the regular was pristine. Both are always in my pocket, and under the same conditions. Now i have a case and screen protector on my plus while the regular is still without anything. I could've just been unlucky. But for some reason i thought the plus scratched up way to easy, and the other was just taking the abuse like a champ.
 
Newtons Apple said:
Then slap a screen protector on it and you should be good. I have never damaged a screen on any of my iPhones so maybe I am just lucky?
Click to expand...
Mine has shattered from drops of only 10-12". I think I'm just unlucky.

Now I used E2E protectors, and while they add a little bulk, it's worth the drop protection (for me) YMMV.
 
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