Report: Apple Preps Sapphire Plant for more durable iPhone Screens

Report: Apple Preps Sapphire Plant for more durable iPhone Screens

Say goodbye to those chintzy smartphone screen protectors; Apple could be on track to use scratch-proof sapphire crystal in its next iPhone.

A report by 9to5Mac suggests that Apple could produce 100 million to 200 million smartphone-sized displays per year in a new Arizona manufacturing plant. Apple is working with New Hampshire-based GT Advanced Technologies to operate the plant, and documents show that GT has received hundreds of furnace and chamber systems for producing “boules” of sapphire crystal. With further processing and polishing, these boules can become screen-sized sheets of sapphire.

Although Apple already uses sapphire for iPhone camera lens covers and the TouchID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s, inspection tools ordered by GT are clearly designated for screen cover materials. 9to5Mac claims that we could see this technology in the next iPhone.

Being the second-hardest natural material behind diamond, sapphire has gotten a lot of hype as a scratch-resistant screen technology. But the display costs are more than 10 times pricier than Gorilla Glass, which has kept sapphire out today’s smartphone screens.

While the costs will certainly fall over time, GT Advanced Technologies may have found a better solution, as noted by MIT Technology Review in March 2013:

An alternative to using pure sapphire is to laminate an ultrathin layer of sapphire with another, cheaper transparent material, maintaining much of the performance advantage of sapphire at a cost comparable to that of the glass typical in mobile-phone displays.
For this purpose, GT Advanced Technologies, based in Nashua, New Hampshire, is developing a method for making sapphire sheets thinner than a human hair—much thinner than the nearly millimeter-thick glass used now on mobile phones.

Apple, meanwhile, has patented the idea of “Sapphire Laminates,” which sounds similar to GT’s method described above. With the term “screen covers” popping up in 9to5Mac’s report, the use of a laminate instead of a pure sapphire display is looking likely.

Will it happen in time for the “iPhone 6″ (or whatever name Apple decides to use)? We’ve got nothing to go on but speculation, but considering that Apple sold 150 million iPhones last fiscal year–with an undisclosed fraction being older models–it’s plausible. If Apple really can produce 200 million sapphire displays per year, that leaves plenty of room wiggle room for consumer demand, especially if sapphire is exclusive to Apple’s top-of-the-line models.

Whether these displays would be part of a big-screen iPhone is still up for debate.

Arizona facility might pump out a hundred million to two hundred million displays p.a..
Say word of farewell to those chintzy smartphone screen protectors; Apple may be not off course to use scratch-proof sapphire crystal in its next iPhone.

A report by 9to5Mac suggests that Apple might turn out a hundred million to two hundred million smartphone-sized displays p.a. during a new Arizona plant. Apple is functioning with New Hampshire-based GT Advanced Technologies to control the plant, and documents show that GT has received many chamber and chamber systems for manufacturing “boules” of sapphire crystal. With additional process and sprucing, these boules will become screen-sized sheets of sapphire.

Although Apple already uses sapphire for iPhone optical lens covers and also the TouchID fingerprint sensing element within the iPhone 5s, review tools ordered by GT ar clearly selected for screen cowl materials. 9to5Mac claims that we have a tendency to might see this technology within the next iPhone.

Being the second-hardest natural material behind diamond, sapphire has gotten lots of publicity as a scratch-resistant screen technology. however the show prices ar over ten times pricier than great ape Glass, that has unbroken sapphire out today’s smartphone screens.

While the prices will definitely break down time, GT Advanced Technologies might have found an improved answer, as noted by university Technology Review in March 2013:

 an alternate to victimization pure sapphire is to laminate AN ultrathin layer of sapphire with another, cheaper clear material, maintaining a lot of of the performance advantage of sapphire at a value similar to that of the glass typical in mobile-phone displays.

    For this purpose, GT Advanced Technologies, primarily based in Nashua, New Hampshire, is developing a way for creating sapphire sheets agent than an individual's hair—much agent than the nearly millimeter-thick glass used currently on mobile phones.

Apple, meanwhile, has proprietary the concept of “Sapphire Laminates,” that sounds like GT’s methodology delineated  on top of. With the term “screen covers” shooting up in 9to5Mac’s report, the employment of a laminate rather than a pure sapphire show is wanting probably.

Will it happen in time for the “iPhone 6″ (or no matter name Apple decides to use)? We’ve got nothing to travel on however speculation, however considering that Apple sold-out {150|one hundred fifty|a hundred ANd fifty} million iPhones last financial  year–with an unrevealed fraction being older models–it’s plausible. If Apple very will turn out two hundred million sapphire displays p.a., that leaves lots of space flexibility for client demand, particularly if sapphire is exclusive to Apple’s top-of-the-line models.

Whether these displays would be a part of a big-screen iPhone continues to be up for discussion.