Video purports to show flexible sapphire display cover for Apple's 'iPhone 6'
With Apple said to be preparing a move from Corning's Gorilla Glass to an in-house sapphire solution for the display on the so-called "iPhone 6," a new part alleged to be a preproduction sapphire front panel for the device was shown off Monday in a video from Hong Kong.
A purported iPhone 6 display cover in a deformation test | Source: Nowhereelse.fr
The nearly four-minute-long video shows the panel compared against an iPhone 5, followed by a series of measurements and a deformation test showing the part's flexibility. The video's provenance is somewhat unclear, as French blog nowhereelse.fr simply credits an "anonymous retailer," though some frames do appear to finger a Hong Kong-based supplier.
When measured diagonally, the LCD opening comes in at approximately 4.7 inches, echoing previous rumors of the next-generation device's display size. The part also appears to feature the more rounded edges seen in previous leaks.
Deformed between two hands, the part shows a relatively high degree of flexibility. Though blogger Sonny Dickson -- who published the video independently and has accurately reported prerelease Apple hardware in the past -- claims that the part on display is made of sapphire, there is no confirmation that the material is indeed in use.
Apple is widely expected to split its next-generation iPhone lineup into two differently-sized handsets, with one 4.7-inch model and a larger, 5.5-inch "phablet" variant. Rumors that one or both may sport sapphire screen covers have intensified since the revelation that Apple invested more than $500 million in an Arizona sapphire facility, though it is possible that the company could have other uses for the material.
A purported iPhone 6 display cover in a deformation test | Source: Nowhereelse.fr
The nearly four-minute-long video shows the panel compared against an iPhone 5, followed by a series of measurements and a deformation test showing the part's flexibility. The video's provenance is somewhat unclear, as French blog nowhereelse.fr simply credits an "anonymous retailer," though some frames do appear to finger a Hong Kong-based supplier.
When measured diagonally, the LCD opening comes in at approximately 4.7 inches, echoing previous rumors of the next-generation device's display size. The part also appears to feature the more rounded edges seen in previous leaks.
Deformed between two hands, the part shows a relatively high degree of flexibility. Though blogger Sonny Dickson -- who published the video independently and has accurately reported prerelease Apple hardware in the past -- claims that the part on display is made of sapphire, there is no confirmation that the material is indeed in use.
Apple is widely expected to split its next-generation iPhone lineup into two differently-sized handsets, with one 4.7-inch model and a larger, 5.5-inch "phablet" variant. Rumors that one or both may sport sapphire screen covers have intensified since the revelation that Apple invested more than $500 million in an Arizona sapphire facility, though it is possible that the company could have other uses for the material.
Comments
Maybe some new composite?
Everything flexes to some degree so that means nothing. It is a question of how and when it breaks.
As to a composite structure that is entirely possible as a lamination of Gorila glass and Saphire would be an interesting combo. That is if there are no thermal problems with such a lamination.
Sapphire cant flex... Its hardness precluded this.
Maybe some new composite?
Sir Jony Ive while working with Liquid Metal and Sapphire in his lab had an accident. The good thing is that the result was Liquid Sapphire! (drum rim shot insert here)...
I've been hoping, for years, that Apple would come up with a composite of alternating layers of diamond and soft, more flexable glass. Scientific studies have shown us how natural materials such a shells gain their amazing strength from many layers, held together with a gluelike substance.
It's not impossible, as work is being done in that area, and it could cost less than people might think. I've got some samples of vapor deposition diamond samples, one about 2 cm square. They are very thin, about 3 thou., according to my measurements, but still can't be scratched by hard objects. Though, because of the thinness. I can't press too hard. It's pretty flexable too. I figure that three layers of diamond, and four of glass, would result in a very hard, on the outside facing the world, and strong, though flexable panel that could be thinner than normal.
After all, we now coat tools with vapor deposited diamond, as well as line very high precision bearings with it. There are other uses coming on line. But I suppose something like this is still in the experimental stages.
That's right. I seem to remember a "U" shape with that bendable Gorilla Glass.
Certainly nothing fake about that video
New word, for me, regarding diamond vapor films in Wikipedia: lipophilia. Normally, touchscreens want to be lipophobic, of course.
Very interesting field. I wasn't aware of it. Carbon rocks! My favorite element.
It's definitely bending less than GG2 but we don't know if it's multiple substrates and the thickness seems to be much higher than which the thinnest possible GG2 as we've seen previously.
Nothing proven in it, either. It’s a real video, at least.
Looks to be the real thing. Also, it seems that the material is rather stiff, more that what I would think Corning glass would be at that thinness.
If it's sapphire, this would be a big deal if they plan to make millions of them.
It's definitely bending less than GG2 but we don't know if it's multiple substrates and the thickness seems to be much higher than which the thinnest possible GG2 as we've seen previously.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for digging that up.
Whether women go gaga for it?
Doesn't point further to it being sapphire? I seem to remember Corning marketing push stating the GG2 was thiner that sapphire.
Quote:
It's definitely bending less than GG2 but we don't know if it's multiple substrates and the thickness seems to be much higher than which the thinnest possible GG2 as we've seen previously.
Nah, it's a fake front plate. The proximity sensor is larger than the front camera, unlike current models and the camera is too high up and not in a symmetric location. They might have switched the camera and sensor positions but I doubt it. This still seems like one of those Goophone parts.
It is pure speculation at this point by anyone but apple to say what you are seeing in the video.
it does appear from the video the person is trying to bend the glass more than it is willing to bend, thus showing it does bend, and even if try and to get it to yield any further it will not break, which in itself is interesting.
Most glass of rigid material when it hits they yield point and you stress it further it break/shatters.
The plot just thickens at this point.
Sapphire flexes?!!! But... but... but Corning said the sapphire Apple intended to use would snap like a brittle twig if someone blew on it. What gives? Apple supposedly can't build indestructable iPhones without Gorilla Glass 3 because Corning knows everything about display glass. Besides, who can bend an iPhone like that? The Hulk, Superman, The Thing? But they probably won't be using iPhones anyway.