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Future iPhones could boast scratch-resistant diamond like coatings

By Anam Hamid

Published: Oct 07, 2020, 5:39 PM

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Future iPhones could boast scratch-resistant diamond like coatings

The iPhone 12 will likely feature Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus. It replaces 2018's Gorilla Glass 6 and can withstand drops up to 2 meters on rough, hard surfaces. It is also two times more scratch-resistant than the Gorilla Glass 6.

Although those are substantial improvements, Victus is still susceptible to scratches, which could weaken it and make it vulnerable to damage. And that's presumably the reason why Apple is reportedly thinking about using a diamond coating to make the iPhone more durable.

According to a November 2018 study by Allstate subsidiary SquareTrade, cracked screens are the most common form of damage, followed by scratched displays and nonworking batteries.

In 2017, American smartphone users broke more than 50 million displays - nearly two every second - and they spent $3.4 billion on replacements.

Repairs usually cost $170 but can go as high as $329 for pricier models like the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

iPhone users are apparently six times more likely to damage their handsets than to have them stolen or misplace them. Per Seeking Alpha, most consumers don't repair a damaged phone that still works, and if it stops working, they prefer getting a new one instead of getting it fixed.

To make its phones more robust, Apple may use diamond-like carbon coatings (DLC) on top of Gorilla Glass in the future. The additional cost is estimated to be pennies per display.

Details are sparse at the moment but at least three major companies have reportedly already created systems to coat Gorilla Glass and other aluminosilicate glasses with diamond-like coatings.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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