Corning’s new glass is a breakthrough for breakables
They might not be as prone to drops as our smartphones, but wearables are more at risk of scuffs, scrapes and other types of breakage – which is why Corning has just announced its “groundbreaking” new glass, Gorilla Glass SR+.
Corning boasts that SR+ has a scratch resistance “approaching that of alternative luxury cover materials”, with 70% more damage resistance against impacts and 25% better surface reflection.
The result is that the new glass should make our future smartwatches more resistant against scrapes and knocks at no expense to the clarity or sensitivity of the display.
The SR+ glass is now commercially available, and Corning says that it’s expecting to see it on devices from “leading global brands” this year.
Of course, the question is: which brands?
Essential reading: The best smartwatches
The Apple Watch Series 2 is a big one we’re still waiting for this year, but you might recall that Apple uses sapphire in its Apple Watch and Edition model screens. However, on the Sport model it uses Ion-X glass, which is quite similar to Gorilla Glass.
Apple’s grand sapphire ambitions were short-lived when it had to close its Arizona sapphire factory, due to problems with partner GT Advanced Technologies being unable to meet deadlines.
It was messy, and sapphire hasn’t made its way to the iPhone yet as a result.
But it remains to be seen if Apple will opt for Corning’s new offering on the Apple Watch 2, even if just for the Sport model.
Other than Apple, we could see it in the new Samsung Gear S3, which we expect to be revealed at IFA 2016, and then there’s that New Balance smartwatch we’re still waiting on…
