Corning, Provider of iPhone and iPad Glass, Announces Stronger and More Scratch Resistant Gorilla Glass 3

Thursday January 3, 2013 1:25 pm PST by Jordan Golson

Corning, provider of the Kentucky-made glass for the iPhone and iPad, has announced the third iteration of its Gorilla Glass panels. The glass both reduces scratches and increases overall strength significantly.

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Gorilla Glass 3 has been improved at the molecular level, incorporating a proprietary feature called Native Damage Resistance (NDR). According to Corning, NDR reduces the propagation of flaws, the appearance of scratches and does a better job of maintaining the overall retained strength of the glass. As a result, GG3 claims a three-fold improvement in scratch resistance, 40 percent reduction in the number of visible scratches and 50 percent boost in retained strength after the glass becomes flawed.

Gorilla Glass was mentioned in the Steve Jobs biography with Jobs personally calling Corning Glass CEO Wendell Weeks, before the first iPhone launched, to request the company begin to scale production of Gorilla Glass for the device.

Gorilla Glass 2 was announced at CES last year. It seems likely that Apple will adopt the improved glass for future iOS devices.

Corning will also announce new optical Thunderbolt cables, available in lengths up to 30 meters. Earlier this week, Japanese firm Sumitomo Electric Industries announced its own optical Thunderbolt cables.

Top Rated Comments

Renzatic

140 months ago

That's the most smug looking gorilla I've ever seen in my entire life.

Yeah, you just think you're cool, gorilla.

Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Kissaragi

Apple uses Gorilla Glass? I swear Apple devices scratch like butter compared to Android and Windows Phone devices.

You'd be wrong then wouldn't you.

Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)

ZacNicholson

good im tired of breaking my phone when im drunk

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Glassed Silver

The more scratch-resistant it is, the easier it is to shatter the phone...I wish Apple would go back to glass that scratches easily but doesn't shatter if you drop the phone. I'd rather pay for a screen protector than an Otterbox.

We need the downvote back, because that is a load of bull right there.

The scratch resistance is NOT due to the material, but due to the coating.
Coating doesn't do anything to the flexibility and hence shatter probability and severeness of a material.

Glassed Silver:mac

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)