Ceramic Shield on iPhone: Apple’s Ceramic Shield technology was introduced in the iPhone 12, promising more durable glass that withstands drops and bumps. What does “Ceramic Shield” mean, and what is the difference between it and the glass used in other phones?
Ceramic Shield Uses Ceramic Nanocrystals
Ceramic Shield gets its name due to the ceramic nanocrystals embedded inside the glass. The crystal structure assists in strengthening the glass and also protects it from cracks and chips.
Another technique employed involves dual-ion exchange, resulting in more significant ions dimensions for an improved product. These two technologies work together to make a more durable display than the one Apple employed on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 smartphones.
Like other smartphone manufacturers, Apple previously used Corning’s Gorilla Glass in their earlier models. Corning also manufactures ceramic Shield; however, the company makes it precisely for Apple, so it’s only available in Apple models.
How Does Ceramic Shield Stack Up?
Apple affirms that the Ceramic Shield is the most challenging glass for smartphones. However, Apple is typically lacking in evidence to support the claim.
The deal with Corning and Apple assures it is guaranteed that Ceramic Shield remains an Apple-exclusive technology. It’s not clear how tougher Ceramic Shield is compared to Corning’s alternate Gorilla Glass Victus, preferred by Samsung’s rival Samsung.
Although there are videos of drop tests, the methodology is different. Limited samples can create a challenge to come to firm conclusions.
There is one particular thing, even on an iPhone model with Ceramic Shield, the best protection for your smartphone is a sturdy protective case (or several).
Is a ceramic Shield better than Gorilla Glass?
Apple promises a 4x increase in drop resistance of the iPhone 12 compared to the iPhone 11 (which had a customized Corning glass that was deemed more vital than Gorilla Glass 6).
These improvements can’t be entirely attributed to Ceramic Shield. Still, they should be attributed to both Ceramic Shield and the design that allows the glass to sit directly against the perfect stainless steel frame.
Gorilla Glass Victus marginally improves drop resistance by 2 meters contrasted to 1.6-meters on Gorilla Glass 6. Gorilla Glass 6.
When viewed together, when taken in conjunction, it means that Ceramic Shield is expected to be more resilient to falls compared with the next-best glass for phones, Gorilla Glass Victus.
Many reviewers have been drop-and-stress-testing their iPhone 12s. While these tests aren’t very scientific, they show noticeably improve toughness on the Brand New IPhone.
Ceramic Shield vs. Gorilla Glass Victus: Scratch Resistance
Drop resistance isn’t the same as scratch resistance. As glass becomes more robust and resistant to drops, it will likely become softer or less scratch-resistant.
Gorilla Glass Victus claims to be twice as scratch-resistant as Gorilla Glass 6. Still, light scratches start showing up at level 6 in Zack Nelson’s (Jerryrigseverything) Mohs Hardness Test.
iPhone 12 also starts scratching at the same rate as Gorilla Glass Victus. Gorilla Glass Victus, so don’t expect any significant increase in scratch resistance.
Get a Case Too
The iPhone 13 may indeed have Ceramic Shield protection, but it could and will shatter when dropped from a high enough height. Take a look at the top iPhone 13 cases that protect against falls.