MSP Explained: Corning Gorilla Glass: What it is, Types, and More 

Corning Gorilla Glass is something you’ve likely heard of if you own a smartphone or tablet. It’s a name synonymous with durability and protection, but what exactly is Gorilla Glass, and why is it so important for your devices? In this edition of MSP Explained, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Gorilla Glass, from how it works to the different types available and even how it compares to other glass protection options.

What is Gorilla Glass?

Let’s start with the basics: what is Gorilla Glass in the first place? It’s a chemically strengthened glass developed by a company named Corning Incorporated. This glass is specifically designed to enhance the durability and scratch resistance of electronic device screens. It undergoes a unique ion exchange process that strengthens its surface, making it more resistant to damage from drops, scratches, and other everyday wear and tear.

It was first introduced in 2007 and is made from a special type of glass known as alkali-aluminosilicate, which combines aluminium, silicon, and oxygen. However, Gorilla Glass stands out due to its unique combination of strength, thinness, and clarity, allowing for a more durable screen without compromising the touch sensitivity or display quality.

How Does it Work?

The magic behind Gorilla Glass lies in its manufacturing process, called ion exchange. During this process, the glass is immersed in a molten salt bath at extremely high temperatures. This causes the smaller sodium ions in the glass to be replaced by larger potassium ions.

The larger ions create a layer of compression on the surface of the glass, making it much more resistant to scratches and cracks. This is why the glass is more likely to survive the fall without shattering when you drop your phone.

Let’s try to understand this with an example: think of gorilla glass as a reinforced concrete wall. Concrete is the base material, and steel reinforcement rods are similar to larger ions in gorilla glass. The steel rods make the wall stronger and more resistant to cracks. Similarly, the larger ions in Gorilla Glass make it more durable.

Types of Gorilla Glass

Over the years, Corning has developed several iterations of Gorilla Glass. Here’s everything you need to know about it:

Gorilla Armor

Gorilla Armor, launched with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in 2024, is Corning’s toughest glass yet. It offers similar durability to Gorilla Glass Victus 2 but has a special design that reduces glare by up to 75%. This means you can see the screen better in bright light. Gorilla Armor is also three times more resistant to drops on rough surfaces like concrete than other types of glass, making it a great choice for smartphones that need extra protection.

Gorilla Glass 7i

Gorilla Glass 7i, also introduced in 2024, is more affordable than Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It uses a different material called lithium aluminosilicate, which is cheaper to produce. Despite being less expensive, Gorilla Glass 7i is still very strong and offers better scratch resistance than Gorilla Glass 6. It can survive drops from about one metre onto rough surfaces like asphalt, making it a solid choice for budget and mid-range smartphones that need good protection without breaking the bank.

Gorilla Glass Victus 2

Launched in early 2023, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 builds upon its predecessor by enhancing drop performance on rough surfaces like concrete. It is designed to survive drops from up to 1 metre on rough surfaces and up to 2 metres on smoother surfaces like asphalt. This version maintains high scratch resistance, making it suitable for a range of devices, including smartphones and tablets. It aims to provide better protection against the common hazards of everyday use, such as drops on jagged surfaces.

Gorilla Glass Victus

Introduced in July 2020, Gorilla Glass Victus marked a significant advancement in durability, offering drop protection from heights (up to 2 metres) and being twice as scratch-resistant as Gorilla Glass 6. It was designed to withstand the rigours of modern life, making it ideal for smartphones and other portable devices. Victus was the first to abandon the numerical naming convention, reflecting a new era in Corning’s glass technology.

Gorilla Glass 6

Released in July 2018, Gorilla Glass 6 is known for its impressive ability to withstand multiple drops from heights (up to 1 metre). It is claimed to be twice as strong as Gorilla Glass 5 and can survive 15 consecutive drops onto hard surfaces. This version was developed with new testing methods, enhancing its overall toughness and making it a popular choice for many flagship smartphones.

Gorilla Glass 5

Launched in July 2016, Gorilla Glass 5 focused on improving resistance to cracking from drops. It can survive drops from up to 1.6 metres onto hard surfaces, making it a reliable choice for devices that may experience frequent accidents. This generation of Gorilla Glass was used in several high-profile smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

Gorilla Glass 3

Introduced in January 2013, Gorilla Glass 3 was a major leap in scratch resistance, offering up to three times the protection against scratches than its predecessor. It featured enhanced flexibility and was designed to resist deep scratches that could weaken the glass. This version was widely adopted in smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Gorilla Glass with DX/DX+

Released alongside Gorilla Glass 6 in 2018, Gorilla Glass DX and DX+ were specifically designed for smartwatches and fitness trackers. These variants feature enhanced anti-reflective properties, improving outdoor visibility while maintaining the same scratch resistance as standard Gorilla Glass. DX+ offers superior scratch resistance, making it ideal for wearable devices, exposed to various environmental conditions.

Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass

First demonstrated at CES 2014, Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass incorporates ionic silver into its surface, providing antibacterial properties. This feature helps reduce the growth of harmful bacteria on the glass surface, making it a suitable option for devices frequently handled by multiple users, such as public kiosks and healthcare devices. This innovation addresses hygiene concerns while maintaining the durability associated with Gorilla Glass.

Gorilla Glass vs. Schott Xensation

While the Gorilla Glass is widely used in the smartphone market, it’s not the only one out there. Schott Xensation is another high-performance glass that is often compared to gorilla glass. It also offers comparable durability and scratch resistance, with versions like Xensation Alpha and Flex.

These are chemically strengthened glasses known for their scratch resistance and drop resistance. However, both companies employ different technologies and manufacturing processes. Gorilla Glass is made by immersing the glass in a molten alkaline potassium salt at a high temperature. Meanwhile, Schott Xensation is made using a microfloat manufacturing process that creates a high compressive stress and depth of layer.

Smartphones with Highest Quality Gorilla Glass Protection

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Conclusion

So that wraps up our guide about Gorilla Glass. However, if you are overwhelmed with all the details in this story, then consider the following points:

• Gorilla Glass Armor: This is the latest and toughest glass from Corning. It was launched with the Galaxy S24 Ultra earlier this year.
• Gorilla Glass 7i: This is also the recent offering from the company, but it’s primarily targeted towards mid-range and more affordable devices.
• Gorilla Glass Victus 2: This is the second toughest version of Corning’s smartphone glass protection.
• Gorilla Glass Victus: It was introduced in 2020 and offers twice the scratch resistance of Gorilla Glass 6 and better drop protection. It was first used on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
• Gorilla Glass 6: It is designed to withstand multiple drops from even greater heights than previous versions.
• Gorilla Glass 5: It was introduced in 2016 and offers better resistance to cracking from drops. It was first used on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
• Gorilla Glass 3: It was launched in 2013 and is up to three times more scratch-resistant than previous versions. It was first used on the Samsung Galaxy S4.
• Gorilla Glass with DX/DX+: Corning introduced it in 2018 for wearable devices, focusing on toughness, and scratch resistance.