Corning say its super-tough “Gorilla Glass,” popularized by Apple’s iPhone, is now 40% less prone to scratches. The company is debuting Gorilla Glass 3 at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and the glass will start appearing in devices later this year.
Gorilla glass was actually developed way back in 1960 but mothballed until Steve Jobs needed something scratch-proof for the screen of the original iPhone. Jobs had to convince Corning that the glass could be manufactured in sufficient quantities for the iPhone’s launch. It’s now used in almost all high-end smartphones, regardless of brand.
Gorilla Glass is manufactured in Taiwan and Japan, as well as in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, the same spot Corning has been making glass for the past 60 years.