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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 it has significant drawbacks when used in mobile devices. They pointed out that the term "sapphire" is misleading and more of a high-end branding tactic. This sparked immediate backlash from industry insiders who highlighted why Apple remains interested in sapphire glass.
Corning’s senior vice president, Tony Tripeny, argued that sapphire glass is far less practical than Gorilla Glass. He noted that it's about 10 times more expensive, 1.6 times heavier, and significantly worse for the environment—requiring 100 times more energy to produce. Additionally, its light transmission is lower, which could either dim the screen or drain battery life faster.
When asked if increasing production could reduce costs, Tripeny outlined three major challenges: sapphire takes 4,000 times longer to crystallize, has a much higher melting point, and its extreme hardness makes cutting and shaping it more difficult. As the size increases, producing flawless crystals becomes exponentially harder.
While Corning’s focus isn’t on sapphire, Apple’s rumored plans to use it in future iPhones and iWatches have raised concerns. Currently, Apple uses Gorilla Glass in most iPhones, though the iPhone 5S features sapphire for the camera and Touch ID sensor. Rumors suggest Apple may expand its use of sapphire in upcoming devices, which would be a blow to Corning.
Apple has been actively investing in sapphire technology through patents and partnerships. For instance, it acquired TwinCreeks Technologies in 2012, which developed ion cannon technology to make ultra-thin sapphire sheets. Patents also show Apple is working on combining sapphire with glass to improve performance while reducing cost and weight.
Tech site CultofMac responded by highlighting that Apple has found ways to make sapphire more affordable. A patent from 2013 shows Apple’s plan to use thin sapphire laminates bonded with cheaper in-cell glass, significantly lowering costs. Even without such innovations, the price difference between sapphire and Gorilla Glass is relatively small—only $6–$9 more per unit.
Moreover, while Corning claims sapphire is prone to breaking, CultofMac’s Mike Elgan argues that sapphire is more resistant to scratches, reducing the likelihood of damage. Although it's harder to scratch, it doesn't necessarily mean it's more fragile.
In reality, sapphire glass is not natural but artificially made from aluminum oxide with trace elements. Most phone screens use colorless sapphire for better light transmission. While Corning points out environmental and cost issues, sapphire’s main advantage is its superior scratch resistance—ranking 9 on the Mohs scale, compared to Gorilla Glass’s 6–6.5. In daily use, dust and sand (which are harder than glass) can easily scratch regular screens, making sapphire a more durable option.
So, is sapphire just a high-end gimmick? It depends on the use case. While it may not be ideal for all applications due to cost and weight, its durability and scratch resistance make it appealing for premium devices. Whether Apple will fully embrace it remains to be seen, but the company clearly sees long-term value in the material.