4 years in the past, Corning unveiled its seventh era of Gorilla Glass, which got here with new branding – Gorilla Glass Victus. It’s geared toward extra premium units (although we’re beginning to see it in mid-rangers too), so now the corporate is bringing out a brand new glass for “value and intermediate devices”, as the corporate describes it.
In different phrases, Gorilla Glass 7i is geared toward mid-rangers and extra inexpensive telephones. Why “7i” when there isn’t a model 7? We requested Corning that they usually say that it is a seventh era glass (like Victus) they usually needed the identify to replicate that. As for the “i”, it’s for “industry-leading innovation for intermediate devices”.
With that out of the best way, let’s meet Gorilla Glass 7i. Corning claims that it may well survive drops from as much as 1m (3.3ft) onto tough surfaces like asphalt, whereas comparable glass alternate options can solely go half as excessive earlier than breaking.
Moreover, 7i is alleged to be two occasions extra scratch resistant (or higher) than these competing glasses. The 7i formulation was designed to be appropriate for all kinds of telephones at totally different value factors. It additionally has a give attention to sustainability too, since these can be mass market fashions.
Why was 7i mandatory within the first place? It’s 2024 and there are many new units that also use Gorilla Glass 5 – in style fashions just like the Nothing Telephone (2a) and Poco F6 Professional, for instance. GG5 launched within the distant 2016, so it’s already 8 years outdated. There are even telephones that use Gorilla Glass 3 (e.g. the Pixel 8a) and that’s from 2013.
Corning and its companions felt the necessity for a extra trendy providing, however one that may match in additional modest budgets whereas nonetheless matching the latest development of placing high-quality shows on mid-range fashions – 10-bit and even 12-bit OLED shows will not be unusual. They usually’ve grown bigger too, a lot bigger than the typical show measurement again in 2016 when GG5 launched, therefore the necessity for one thing to fit between GG5 and Victus.
Corning revealed that Oppo would be the first firm to unveil a telephone with Gorilla Glass 7i. Extra particulars will come quickly from Oppo itself. 7i can be used on telephones, although it’s appropriate for smartwatches and different units that want scratch and fall resistant glass.