Corning, Provider of iPhone and iPad Glass, Announces Stronger and More Scratch Resistant Gorilla Glass 3 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

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

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.

Unknown

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.

Popular Stories

HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored

Sunday May 31, 2026 8:47 am PDT by
New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said. "I am told the hardware for the next Apple TV...
Apple Wallet

iOS 27 Will Add Two New Apple Wallet Features to Your iPhone

Monday June 1, 2026 12:15 pm PDT by
Apple is set to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8, and the update will reportedly include two new Apple Wallet features. First, iOS 27 will reportedly let users create their own digital passes by scanning items like movie tickets, concert passes, and gym membership cards. Many apps already offer Apple Wallet passes, but now users will be able to create a custom...
Apple Foldable Thumb

First 'Confirmed' iPhone Ultra Color Allegedly Revealed in Leaked Image

Monday June 1, 2026 4:39 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone later this year. Rumors suggest the "iPhone Ultra" will come in two color options, and a leaker shared an image today that allegedly shows one of them. Posted on Weibo by the Chinese leaker known as Ice Universe, the image purportedly offers a first glimpse of Apple's foldable in white. The device is believed to have entered early mass...

Top Rated Comments

Renzatic Avatar
175 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)
175 months ago
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 Avatar
175 months ago
good im tired of breaking my phone when im drunk
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glassed Silver Avatar
175 months ago
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)
arn Avatar
175 months ago
Does Apple use it? Based on gorilla glass's site, they don't.

http://www.apple.com/about/job-creation/

Corning employees in Kentucky and New York who create the majority of the glass for iPhone
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
w00t951 Avatar
175 months ago
Apple uses Gorilla Glass? I swear Apple devices scratch like butter compared to Android and Windows Phone devices.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)