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Gorilla Glass is a brand ofchemically strengthened glass developed and manufactured byCorning Inc. Currently in its ninth generation, it is designed to be thin, light, and damage-resistant. Its surface strength and crack-resistance are achieved through immersion in a hotpotassium-saltion-exchange bath.[1]
Thealkali-aluminosilicate sheet glass is primarily used as cover glass for portable electronic devices, includingsmartphones,smartwatches,portable media players,portable computer displays, andtelevision screens.[2] It is manufactured inHarrodsburg, Kentucky;Asan, South Korea;[3] andTaiwan. As of October 2017, Gorilla Glass was used in approximately five billion devices worldwide.[4] Despite its market dominance, Gorilla Glass faces competition from similar products, includingAGC Inc.'sDragontrail,Schott AG's Xensation, andsynthetic sapphire.[5][6][7][4]
Corning experimented with chemically strengthened glass in 1960 as part of a "Project Muscle" initiative. Replacement of smaller sodium ions with larger potassium ones by a chemical treatment in order to improve the compressive strength of the surface layer of a glass was first developed bySteven Kistler in 1962.[8][9] Soon Corning researchers found that addition of aluminium and zirconium oxides improved the qualities even further.[10][9]
Within a few years they had developed a "muscled glass"[11] marketed asChemcor. The product was used until the early 1990s in commercial and industrial applications, including automotive, aviation and pharmaceutical uses,[11] notably in approximately 100Dodge Dart andPlymouth Barracuda racing cars in 1968, where minimizing the vehicle's weight was essential.[12]
Experimentation was revived in 2005, investigating whether the glass could be made thin enough for use in consumer electronics.[13] Although not called Gorilla Glass at the time, it was brought into commercial use with the launch of theiPhone in June 2007.[14][15] The iPhone thatSteve Jobs revealed in January 2007 still featured a plastic display. The day after he held up the plastic iPhone on stage, Jobs complained about scratches that had developed on the phone's display after carrying it around in his pocket.Apple then contacted Corning and asked for a thin, toughened glass to be used in its new phone.[16] The scratch-resistant glass that shipped[17] on the first-generation iPhone would eventually come to be known as Gorilla Glass, officially introduced in February 2008.[18] Corning further developed the material for a variety ofsmartphones and other consumer electronics devices for a range of companies.[19][20][21]
Corning markets the material's primary properties as its high scratch-resistance (protective coating) and its hardness (with aVickers hardness test rating of 622 to 701),[22] which allows the glass to be thin without being fragile. The glass can be recycled.[19]
In December 2015,Ford announced that it would use the material for the windshield and rear window of its second-generationFord GT sports car going on sale in 2016.[23] It later spread to mainstream models such as theFord F-150 andJeep Wrangler.[24]
During its manufacture, the glass istoughened by ion exchange. The material is immersed in amoltenalkalinepotassium salt at a temperature of approximately 400 °C (750 °F),[25] wherein smallersodium ions in the glassare replaced by largerpotassium ions from the salt bath. The larger ions occupy more volume and thereby create a surface layer of highresidual compressive stress, giving the glass surface increased strength, the ability to contain flaws,[26] and overall crack-resistance,[27] making it resistant to damage from everyday use.[25]
Gorilla Glass, initially featured on the original iPhone upon its release in June 2007,[14] was formally unveiled in February 2008.[18] By 2010, the glass had been used in approximately 20% of mobile handsets worldwide, or about 200 million units.[28]
Gorilla Glass 2 was introduced in January 2012.[29] The second generation is 20% thinner than the original Gorilla Glass.[30] It was first used on theSamsung Galaxy S III.[31] In October 2012, Corning announced that over one billion mobile devices used Gorilla Glass.[32]
Gorilla Glass 3 was introduced atCES 2013 on January 7.[33] According to Corning, the material is up to three times more scratch-resistant than the previous version, with enhanced ability to resist deep scratches that typically weaken glass.[34][35] Promotional material for Gorilla Glass 3 claims that it is 40% more scratch-resistant in addition to being more flexible.[36] The design of Gorilla Glass 3 was Corning's first use of atomic-scale modeling before the material was melted in laboratories, with the prediction of the optimal composition obtained through the application ofrigidity theory.[37] The first phone to use Gorilla Glass 3 was theSamsung Galaxy S4.[38]
When Gorilla Glass 3 was announced, Corning indicated that areas for future improvements included reducing reflectivity and susceptibility to fingerprint smudges, changing surface treatments, and the way the glass is finished.[30] Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass, with antibacterial ionic silver incorporated into its surface, was introduced and demonstrated atCES 2014 in January.[39]
Gorilla Glass 4 was introduced in November 2014.[40] It has better damage resistance and capability to be made thinner with the same performance as its predecessor.[41] It was first used on theSamsung Galaxy Alpha.[42]
Gorilla Glass 5 was introduced in July 2016.[43] It offers better resistance to cracking from drops and was first used on theSamsung Galaxy Note 7.[44]
Gorilla Glass SR+ was introduced in August 2016.[45] It was designed for wearable mobile devices, focusing on toughness, scratch resistance, and optical clarity.[46] It was first used on theSamsung Gear S3 smartwatch.[47]
Gorilla Glass 6 was introduced in July 2018.[48] It has the scratch resistance of Gorilla Glass 5, but is designed to withstand multiple drops from even greater heights. It was first used on theSamsung Galaxy S10.[49]
Gorilla Glass DX and DX+ were introduced in July 2018, following the launch of Gorilla Glass 6.[50] An extension of Gorilla Glass SR+, Gorilla Glass DX features enhanced antireflective optics with the same scratch resistance of Gorilla Glass, while Gorilla Glass DX+ provides enhanced antireflective optics with superior scratch resistance. While primarily intended for wearable mobile devices, developments were underway to adapt these new glass composites to larger form-factor devices.[50] Gorilla Glass DX+ was first used on theSamsung Galaxy Watch.[51]
Gorilla Glass 3+ was introduced in August 2019.[52] It was designed for intermediate and value-segment mobile devices, and its drop performance bridges the gap between Gorilla Glass 3 and Gorilla Glass 5 in this market segment.[52]
Gorilla Glass Victus was introduced in July 2020.[53] It improves both drop and scratch performance and is claimed by Corning to be twice as scratch-resistant as Gorilla Glass 6.[53] It was first used on theSamsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.[54]
In July 2021, Corning announced that it will bring its Gorilla Glass DX and DX+ glass composites to cover smartphone camera lenses and said thatSamsung would be the first customer to adopt them.[55] The first Samsung phones to use Gorilla Glass DX protection for the cameras were theGalaxy Z Fold 3 and theGalaxy Z Flip 3.[56]
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 was introduced in November 2022.[57] The second-generation Victus has a new composition for improved drop performance on rough surfaces like concrete. In terms of scratch resistance, it is said to be similar to its predecessor.[58] However, according to one user report, the glass is susceptible to micro-scratches, and it has been suggested that this could be due to the use of softer materials for improved resistance to shattering.[59][60] Gorilla Glass Victus 2 was first used on theSamsung Galaxy S23 series.[61]
Gorilla Glass's ninth generation, branded as Gorilla Armor, was introduced in January 2024.[62] Although Corning hasn't directly compared it to the previous generation, the company claims that the glass performs up to three times better in drop tests onto concrete and is four times more scratch-resistant than competitive aluminosilicate cover glasses. Additionally, it enhances visual clarity by reducing reflectance by up to 75% compared to a typical glass surface, thereby improving display readability. It was first used on theSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.[62]
Gorilla Glass 7i was introduced in June 2024, specifically targeting intermediate and value-segment smartphones. It offers enhanced drop protection and scratch resistance, outperforming competitive lithium aluminosilicate glasses. According to Corning, Gorilla Glass 7i can withstand drops from up to one meter (3.3 ft) onto rough surfaces, an improvement over similar materials that typically fail at half that height, while also being up to two times as scratch-resistant.[63]
Gorilla Armor 2 was introduced in January 2025, marking the introduction of glass-ceramic materials to the Gorilla Glass lineup.[64] Building upon Gorilla Armor's focus on drop performance and anti-reflective properties, Armor 2 further enhances drop performance through its glass-ceramic composition. In Corning's lab tests, Armor 2 survives drops of up to 2.2 meters (7.2 ft) onto a surface replicating concrete, while maintaining its scratch resistance. It was first used on theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.[64]
In May 2025, Corning introduced Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, which will be used in the upcomingSamsung Galaxy S25 Edge.[65]
| Generation | 1[22] | 2[66][67] | 3[68] | 4[69][70] | 5[71] | SR+[a] | 6[72] | DX/DX+[a] | 3+ | Victus[73] | Victus 2[74] | Armor | 7i[75] | Armor 2 | Ceramic 2[76] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | Feb 2008[18] | Jan 2012[29] | Jan 2013[33] | Nov 2014[40] | Jul 2016[43] | Aug 2016[45] | Jul 2018[48] | Jul 2018[50] | Aug 2019[52] | Jul 2020[53] | Nov 2022[57] | Jan 2024[62] | Jun 2024[63] | Jan 2025[64] | May 2025[65] |
| Density ing/cm3 | 2.45 | 2.42 | 2.39 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 2.48 | |||||
| Young's modulus inGPa | 73.3 | 71.5 | 70 | 65.8 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 77 | 103 | |||||
| Poisson's ratio | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 0.19 | |||||
| Shear modulus in GPa | 30.1 | 29.6 | 28.5 | 26 | 31.7 | 31.9 | 31.4 | 32.2 | 31.8 | 43.1 | |||||
| Vickers hardness (200g load): Unstrengthened inkgf/mm2 | 622 | 534 | 555 | 489 | 559 | 611 | 590 | 595 | 591 | 640 | |||||
| Vickers hardness (200g load): Strengthened in kgf/mm2 | 701 | 649 | 653 | 596 | 608 | 678 | 651 | 670 | 658 | 660 | |||||
| Fracture toughness inMPa·m0.5 | 0.7 | 0.68 | 0.66 | 0.67 | 0.69 | 0.7 | 0.76 | 0.82 | 0.78 | 1.15 | |||||
| Coefficient ofthermal expansion (0–300 °C) in 10−7/K | 91.0 | 81.4 | 75.8 | 86.9 | 78.8 | 75.2 | 72.5 | 58.8 | 59.9 | 65.9 |
Superfest is a chemically hardened glass also known as Ceverit and CV-Glas. It was developed in East Germany in the 1970s.
On October 26, 2011, Corning announced the commercial launch ofLotus Glass, designed forOLED and next-generationLC displays.[77] The intrinsic thermal consistency of Lotus Glass allows it to retain its shape and quality during high-temperature processing. Decreased compaction and variation during the crystallization and activation step further reduce stress and distortions to the substrate. This enables tighter design rules in advanced backplanes for higher resolution and faster response time.[78] According to Corning, Gorilla Glass is specifically a cover glass for the exterior of display devices while Lotus Glass is designed as a glass substrate to be used within liquid crystal display panels. In other words, a single product could incorporate both Gorilla Glass and Lotus Glass.[79]
On February 2, 2012, Corning Incorporated andSamsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd. signed an agreement to establish a new equity venture for the manufacture of specialty glass substrates for theOLED device market in Korea. The joint venture is based on Lotus Glass.[80] Lotus XT Glass became available in 2013.[81]
In 2012, Corning introducedWillow Glass,[82] a flexible glass based onborosilicate glass,[83] launched for use as a display substrate.
Ceramic Shield, a ceramic-hardened front glass, was co-developed withApple and is used on all iPhones fromiPhone 12 onwards (except thethird-generation iPhone SE).[84]
[In 2005,] Corning CEO Wendell Weeks gave Steve Jobs a demonstration of his company's glass material. Jobs was impressed and decided to use Corning's glass protection for the original iPhone, as explained in Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of the late Apple co-founder
