Samsung Galaxy Nexus uses some type of "fortified glass", after all

posted by Daniel P. / Oct 27, 2011, 6:03 AM

After Corning, the makers of the reinforced Gorilla Glass found in many smartphones and tablets, tweeted that the Galaxy Nexus is not using their product in its screen package, Samsung replied that the first Android ICS handset utilizes another kind of "fortified glass".

The company didn't specify which type, but there are alternatives out there to Corning's creation, which are not as public and advertised, but perform just as well.

Asahi's Dragontrail glass, for example, touts similar features, like being able to withstand 60 kilos on just 1mm thickness without shattering into pieces. See the presentation below:

We don't know exactly what kind of "fortified glass" Samsung is using for the Galaxy Nexus, but are fairly certain it won't break in tiny pieces with normal usage, and should survive the occasional drop on the carpet, otherwise it wouldn't have passed the QA tests each new product undegoes.

via AndroidandMe

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55 Comments

1. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

Whew thank god. I was really worried when I heard it wasn't having GGlass but kudos to Samsung for this.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:05 AM 6

9. bobfreking55

Posts: 866; Member since: Jul 15, 2011

The curved display would also probably prevent it from scratches etc. and I think Samsung could have developed something better. :) no worries.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:32 AM 5

22. sgogeta4

Posts: 394; Member since: Feb 02, 2011

Not surprising. Commented on this in the PA article saying that the Nexus wasn't going with Corning's Gorilla glass.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 7:23 AM 1

24. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

I always encourage people to buy screen protectors for their phones. GGlass or not, they prevent scratches. My concern is cracking the screen from being dropped. Cases can only protect so much and without GGLASS or something similar its always a fear.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 7:27 AM 3

30. iankellogg

Posts: 155; Member since: Jun 15, 2011

I think I am squarely in the minority but I never put screen protectors or cases on my phones. I strongly believe that a phone should be designed to survive anything AS IS. If your phone needs protection then it is a piece of s**t. i'm looking at you iPhone 4Shattermagnet.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 8:20 AM 2

45. bolaG

Posts: 468; Member since: Aug 15, 2011

I got to agree with the part of "...a phone should be designed to survive anything as is." cases just look awful :(

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 1:44 PM 0

44. robinrisk unregistered

How? Gorilla glass doesnt get scratched by anything short of a drilling machine, so i guess whith gorila glass there´s no need for screen protectors, it´s already built into the phone.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 12:47 PM 0

48. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

I'm far more concerned with my screen getting cracked than scratched. Most scratches cant be seen unless you are under a bright light with the right angle and I have seen it first hand if you put a invishield screen protector on a phone with a scratch on it, it actually covers up the scratch and you can't see it.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:41 PM 0

23. rd_nest

Posts: 1656; Member since: Jun 06, 2010

*** NOT MY RESEARCH *** Gorilla Glass was trademarked in 2008 for Corning's alkali aluminosilicate glass, their patent for such glass ran out some 20 years ago, anyone can make as much alkali aluminosilicate glass as they want without having to pay Corning for a name, Apple uses alkali aluminosilicate glass in the iPhone not Gorilla Glass. Using a non-name version isn't what makes them fail drop tests, since alkali aluminosilicate glass isn't shatterproof by whatever you call it but due to the design of the phone itself, alkali aluminosilicate glass is just more scratch resistant and a bit more bendable. Glass is made by Samsung Corning Precision Glass. It is joint venture company between Samsung and Corning. http://www.scp.samsung.com/company/coringcompany.asp It's the same type of glass used in S2, but without the Gorilla branding.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 7:25 AM 7

54. KRONeage

Posts: 144; Member since: Apr 17, 2011

Samsung Corning (joint venture since 1973) merged with Samsung recently. However it is still listed in Corning's holdings. They have incorporated the Fusion Technology used in LCD Glass substrates into making mobile glass substrates. Now they've jointly advanced the technology in their own R&D labs at Samsung. Anyway only Corning's plant in America and Japan can use the Trademark "Gorilla Glass" for mobile screens only (phones and tablet PC's). These Gorilla Glass screens must be flat by the very nature of the process used and it's the process, not the use of alkali alumino-sillicate that was patented and trademarked in "Gorilla Glass" formulation! So in Samsung Korea had to make a fortified glass that is thicker at top and bottom than it is in the center. So the main difference is in a fortified glass (like usedNokia's N9) to achieve curved edges instead of the sharp edges of Gorrilla Glass and be of tapered thickness. It also has to be more flexible, even though no flexible phones are being made yet, Samsung Corning is ready this. The screen itself is flat. Only the glass is tapered in thickness. But the high tech Fusion process

posted on Nov 12, 2011, 10:32 AM 0

55. jumpercable69

Posts: 1; Member since: Jun 04, 2012

Corning experimented with chemically strengthened glass in 1960, as part of an initiative called "Project Muscle". Within a few years it had developed what it named "Chemcor" glass. Corning could find no practical use for the glass at the time and the predecessor of "Gorilla Glass" was never put into mass production, excepting its use in approximately one hundred 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda race cars, where the reduced weight was key. This information is from Wikipedia. You might think this is incorrect information but I heard exactly the same thing about 3 years ago. So it is correct to the best of my knowledge.

posted on Jun 04, 2012, 6:37 PM 0

2. bigboss

Posts: 80; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

What if this 'fortified glass' performs better than Gorilla Glass in real life?

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:12 AM 8

4. ayephoner

Posts: 858; Member since: Jun 09, 2009

who said better than? the article says just as well as. i was actually wondering about this when i read the corning tweet. just because they aren't using the brand name doesnt mean they arent using the technology (or a very similar one)

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:25 AM 2

17. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

good.. i can breathe again. lol. the lack of protective glass might have been my final straw.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:53 AM 9

25. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

Agreed remix, I can get over the lack of a micro SD slot and some other gripes but it doesn't matter how awesome a phone is, it looks like s**t with a cracked screen.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 7:29 AM 7

16. aries.phills

Posts: 161; Member since: May 17, 2011

Then G Glass will have to run for its money. Technically, thats what we want. COMPETITION!!!!!!!!

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:49 AM 5

33. ayephoner

Posts: 858; Member since: Jun 09, 2009

sorry big boss. i need to stop posting as soon as i get to work in the morning. i misread your post somehow.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 8:54 AM 1

3. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

I would like to find out bigboss, just not on my phone :P

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:14 AM 3

5. bigboss

Posts: 80; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

That is a valid point ROARY. It is really unknown that how many people would buy the phone unless they are convinced that it is strong enough. Samsung made a mistake here.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:28 AM 3

13. Joshing4fun

Posts: 1245; Member since: Aug 13, 2010

Really? You really think sales are going to be hurt because it may not be gorilla glass? Whoever would pass up on this phone simply because it doesn't have gorilla glass is a (insert derogatory name here). Plus I've cracked the glass of both my phones that have gorilla glass. Gorilla glass isn't THAT great.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 6:40 AM 6

27. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

What phones? I have stomped on my dead Droid x multiple times and even took a hammer to it. Not even a scratch.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 7:36 AM 2

31. snowgator

Posts: 3621; Member since: Jan 19, 2011

Not only is that good to know about Gorilla Glass, it sounds like a really, really good time. Wonder if I know anyone with an old "X" laying around.....

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 8:20 AM 0

39. ayephoner

Posts: 858; Member since: Jun 09, 2009

my X is still in use and does have a tiny scratch on the screen. im not sure how it got there, its about 1/2 cm in length, but its there (and ive done nothing like stomping or hammering my phone)

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 9:47 AM 1

40. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

Its not scratch proof but it will help a lot to prevent it from cracking.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 9:56 AM 1

43. iamcc

Posts: 1319; Member since: Oct 07, 2011

In the time that I worked for Verizon Wireless, I had a D1. Whenever someone asked me how durable it was I would walk them outside and literally throw the phone on the pavement. Maybe it was a dumb idea, maybe not. All I know is I probably did that over fifty times and while the body was scratched to hell the phone continued to function properly and I never broke the screen. I also sold a shit ton of Droids.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 12:01 PM 0

47. Joshing4fun

Posts: 1245; Member since: Aug 13, 2010

I've cracked the screens of my Samsung Fascinate and Motorola Droid.

posted on Oct 27, 2011, 4:44 PM 0

49. RORYREVOLUTION

Posts: 3131; Member since: Jan 12, 2010

OG Droid and Fascinate don't have GGlass or at least the updated more durable versions found on the Droid X and SGS2. I bought a broken Droid X off of Ebay, the screen was in perfect condition. Just had a bad ESD and was basically sold cheap for parts. I put it through a lot of tests. Stomped on the screen as hard as I could multiple times with my steel toe boots on. Not a scratch, I took a hammer to the screen multiple times. Again, not a scratch nor was it cracked. I picked it up and threw it as hard as I could on cement floor multiple times, not a scratch on it. The back and sides of the metal were chipped of course but the screen was undamaged.