iPhone 6 To Have Sapphire Glass Screen?

[TOMPPIX]

According to reports, the Foxconn factory in Shenzen has assembled  prototypes of the next generation iPhone 6. The surprising thing about this is the sapphire glass based screen. The report points out the difficulty in preparing this prototype and putting in the iPhone home button and the camera. Foxconn however in the end overcame the difficulties and completed it.

 

 

Another interesting report here from last November states that Apple started building a manufacturing plant for the sole purpose of making sapphire crystals. These would be later used in Apple products. Such a big output from this factory can be linked to the upcoming Apple flagship smartphone. Apple’s CEO confirmed the company’s investment in the sapphire glass industry.

 

It is also widely known that sapphire glass is more “tougher” than Gorilla glass. If this is confirmed, then this move will drive prices up for the iPhone 6. How high? we will see soon enough when the smartphone launches.

 

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[brownninja97]

sapphire is expensive, apple are stupid if they think people will pay something like 999 for a phone, actually screw im sure people are gonna fall for it.

[Guest Philosophy]

sapphire is expensive, apple are stupid if they think people will pay something like 999 for a phone, actually screw im sure people are gonna fall for it.

You have to consider, people in this world love fashion statements and trump cards. Combine them in one phone and people will buy no matter how expensive it is. I know way too many people who would say "Look at my new Iphone 6, it cost (insert money amount here)" then laugh in my face because my phone was only $300. Its just how people are...

[Bonsai99]

apple are stupid if they think people will pay something like 999 for a phone

That is their entire business model. Haha

[Glenwing]

sapphire is expensive, apple are stupid if they think people will pay something like 999 for a phone, actually screw im sure people are gonna fall for it.

 

It's synthetic, so not as expensive as you might think, but yeah.  More than glass anyway.

 

Sapphire has greater hardness than glass which makes it more scratch resistant, but on the same token it also makes it more brittle and easier to shatter.  I'm not sure if this is a good trade, but we'll see.

[jrfox87]

This rumour has popped up a few times before over the past year. I don't see it actually happening though if it can't be done while still meeting their current price point. One thing to keep in mind though is that Apple likely makes many different prototypes with different materials and such, so even if it is true that foxconn has manufactured prototypes for Apple with Sapphire screens, it doesn't necessarily mean that's what they will use in the next iPhone. 

[brownninja97]

It's synthetic, so not as expensive as you might think, but yeah.  More than glass anyway.

 

Sapphire has greater hardness than glass which makes it more scratch resistant, but on the same token it also makes it more brittle and easier to shatter.  I'm not sure if this is a good trade, but we'll see.

So its harder but its weaker, thats an odd tradeoff.

[jrfox87]

So its harder but its weaker, thats an odd tradeoff.

That's the normal tradeoff. With these things, the harder they are the more scratch resistant they are but also the more brittle they are.

[SirRoderick]

Not sure if it makes sense from an everyday usage standpoint, that could go either way. But it DOES sound like one hell of a marketing term.

[Logan2012]

You do realize they could open a sapphire plant because the fingerprint scanner use one of those

[BernardoSLR]

sapphire is expensive, apple are stupid if they think people will pay something like 999 for a phone, actually screw im sure people are gonna fall for it.

 

It already costs 999 here (iPhone 4 costed 999, 4S as well, 5 as well and 5S same)... Even more, and people fall for it. lol

[Fetzie]

And then you drop it from sofa height onto the floor and the screen shatters into a billion tiny pieces because the material used is extremely brittle.

[brownninja97]

It already costs 999 here (iPhone 4 costed 999, 4S as well, 5 as well and 5S same)... Even more, and people fall for it. lol

im talking in £, thats like 1499 for you guys

[rashdanml]

So its harder but its weaker, thats an odd tradeoff.

In engineering terms, strength and toughness/hardness mean two different things entirely.

[Nineshadow]

Not diamond.I'm not impressed.

[sNarsi]

I thought they are using sapphire glass from iPhone 5 it self...is'nt the true?

[Antistatic12]

Stronger screens are always good news
However I would rather see the money put into better R&D of battery tech. Having a tough screen is nice and all, but having no energy left is more problematic.
I am sure the GS5 will have something similar if not the same.
 

[kuddlesworth9419]

So like the original PSP. That had sapphire crystal glass.

[kiribou]

I don't really understand why people are bashing apple for this, they're offering a premium product with a premium feature at a premium price. This is generally how things go isn't it? The feature of this product is also one that increases the longevity of the product which is great for a lot of people who upgrade once every several generation. Lets also face it, at least in the UK a large majority of people will just receive the next Iphone as their new phone from their contracts or what not making it less of an issue of the upfront price

[That Norwegian Guy]

 

Smartphones need to hurry up and reach end-of-innovation so the news can go away  <_<

[DLM_012]

I'd like to see if this will be a marketing gimmick or if it actually delivers. I cannot wait to see it tested 

[Ertman]

It's not that expensive, significantly more than gorilla glass, but not as much has one might think. That scratch resistant brittleness trade off doesn't sound too appealing.

[Ertman]

I'd like to see if this will be a marketing gimmick or if it actually delivers. I cannot wait to see it tested

Isn't that like saying gorilla glass is a marketing gimmick? Sure it's hype to sell phones but if it is a measurable improvement, it's not really a gimmick.

[DLM_012]

Isn't that like saying gorilla glass is a marketing gimmick? Sure it's hype to sell phones but if it is a measurable improvement, it's not really a gimmick.

 

Gorilla glass has been tested. There are several videos on youtube of people trying to damage it. To my knowledge there are no smartphones on the market that have a sapphire display. I said I'm waiting to see tests whether it's a gimmick or not

[infernowheels]

It's synthetic, so not as expensive as you might think, but yeah.  More than glass anyway.

 

Sapphire has greater hardness than glass which makes it more scratch resistant, but on the same token it also makes it more brittle and easier to shatter.  I'm not sure if this is a good trade, but we'll see.

From what I've heard, the proposal is that they put a thin layer of Sapphire over Gorilla glass or any standard(strengthened) screen glass, therefore it'll cost less, be less prone to shattering and more scratch resistant. It's a more viable option than just pure Sapphire.