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Corning's shelling sapphire screen and then the battle of the screen
Last week, two Corning executives criticized sapphire glass during the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecommunications Conference, claiming that its use in mobile devices has significant drawbacks. They suggested that the term "sapphire" is more of a marketing gimmick than a practical advantage. This sparked immediate pushback from industry insiders who highlighted why Apple remains so interested in sapphire glass.
Corning's senior vice president, Tony Tripeny, argued that sapphire glass is not only 10 times more expensive than Gorilla Glass but also 1.6 times heavier and less environmentally friendly. He pointed out that producing sapphire glass consumes about 100 times more energy than regular glass. Additionally, it has lower light transmission, which could either dim the screen or drain the battery faster.
When asked if increasing production could reduce costs, Tripeny outlined three major challenges: the long crystallization time—4,000 times longer than Corning’s process—and the higher melting point. The material's extreme hardness also makes cutting and shaping it significantly more difficult and costly. As the size increases, creating flawless crystals becomes exponentially harder.
While Corning emphasizes its own innovations, Apple has been quietly exploring sapphire glass for future devices. Rumors suggest that the next iPhone and iWatch might feature sapphire displays. Although Apple currently uses Gorilla Glass on most models, it has already incorporated sapphire into components like the iPhone 5S’s camera lens and Touch ID sensor.
Apple has also filed multiple patents related to sapphire production and integration, and in 2013, it partnered with GT Advanced Technologies with a $78 million deal. This hints at Apple’s long-term interest in the material.
In response to Corning’s claims, CultofMac’s Mike Elgan pointed out that Apple has been working with TwinCreeks, a company that developed ioncannon technology to produce ultra-thin sapphire sheets. This method allows for bonding sapphire with glass, reducing weight and cost while improving light transmission.
According to PatentlyApple, Apple has patented a "Sapphire Laminates" technique that enables sapphire screens thinner than 1 mm. By combining sapphire with cheaper in-cell glass, Apple can cut costs significantly. Even without this technology, the difference in cost between sapphire and Gorilla Glass is relatively small—around $6–$9 per unit.
Elgan also countered Corning’s claim that sapphire is prone to breaking. While sapphire is scratch-resistant, it doesn’t necessarily shatter more easily than glass. In fact, because it resists scratches better, it may be less likely to chip over time.
Sapphire glass is not naturally occurring; it’s made artificially from aluminum oxide with trace elements. Most phone screens use colorless sapphire for optimal light transmission. Despite Corning’s criticisms, sapphire’s main advantage is its hardness—Mohs scale 9 compared to Gorilla Glass’s 6–6.5—which makes it far more resistant to everyday scratches from dust and sand.
So, is sapphire just a high-end label? It depends on the perspective. For Apple, it represents durability and innovation. For Corning, it’s an impractical alternative. But as technology evolves, the balance between cost, performance, and design may shift in favor of sapphire in the future.