Checking in with Corning: the status of foldable glass

25 November 2019
We had a chance to talk to Corning about the future of glass in foldable smartphones. Also, what ever happened to sapphire glass?

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  • S
  • Shery
  • 3J5
  • 26 Nov 2019

Glass is glass, and glass breaks.

    I think it also rely on the thickness let's say the thicker tempered glass has durable than slimmer one.

      • K
      • Kuba
      • jiW
      • 26 Nov 2019

      AnonD-558092, 25 Nov 2019I keep forgetting LG phones. Tells a lot about their releva... moreit makes also some positives: LG phones have good specs and 6months after launch become extremely cheap. I just bought LG V50 5G for 285USD ! Korean version but works like a charm.

        Luckily there are still those out there that make phones to be USED, and not just to fall apart so they can sell more. Either new devices or expensive repairs.
        Glass backs are inexcusable in my book. If they do not want to use metal, then go for say carbon fibre...

        I last week got this with a solid metal build and a real keyboard too: https://www.fxtec.com/pro1/

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • nIL
          • 26 Nov 2019

          Junk the glass backs, let's have have materials that are nice to hold and grippy; alcantara, neoprene ...

            • i
            • i do
            • Gxx
            • 25 Nov 2019

            Anonymous, 25 Nov 2019Very few people use wireless charging when wired charging i... moreevery night when i go to bed i wirelessly charge it

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • vjw
              • 25 Nov 2019

              Anonymous, 25 Nov 2019You're just going to shove your phone in a case anyway so w... moreI don't. The case adds unneeded weight and bulk to the phone.

                The main argument to use glass as a back panel is that it supports wireless charging.
                But there are many more materials that can do that: plastic, leather, carbon fiber, Kevlar. Yet we don't use them.
                Then why manufacturers use glass? Because it's easy to form and is cheap.

                And what if I told you there is a way to use wireless charging through metal backplate? There is and it's called Near Field Magnetic Resonance. Qualcomm has patents for this tech since 2015, but hasn't been standardized yet.
                So who knows, maybe metal backplate will return, once the tech is widely used.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-558092
                  • 45}
                  • 25 Nov 2019

                  Whackcar, 25 Nov 2019Actually, curved glass began with LG G Flex in 2013. Instea... moreI keep forgetting LG phones. Tells a lot about their relevancy nowadays.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • mGY
                    • 25 Nov 2019

                    What a crap add. The conclusion IS there is no foldable glass. And there wont be.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-731363
                      • SH3
                      • 25 Nov 2019

                      Man tthat was long but one hell interesting reading.
                      Nice to see company which survives this long.
                      And i definitely appreciatte al their effort.
                      Soon or later they will find glass or non glass material which will act the same which can bend but cant cscratch or breaks.

                        I want the metal unibody back. One of the reasons (right after curved screens) I haven't upgadet my pixel XL. No one cares for wireless charging, especially with the fast charging improving rapidly.

                          • L
                          • Love the Community
                          • Fv4
                          • 25 Nov 2019

                          Whackcar, 25 Nov 2019Actually, curved glass began with LG G Flex in 2013. Instea... moreIt would've been so great if they continued on. G Flex series is slightly more innovative than what we have now. In an era where camera tech is considered innovation, LG did self-healing plastic bodies that removes scratches in minutes and Curved display for optimal viewing experience and a few more.

                          It's clearly better than Galaxy Round and they could've implement it in the G and V series of flagships.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • m1q
                            • 25 Nov 2019

                            Ok ok, folding glass is difficult problem, so Samsung has signed exclusive deal with Dowoo Insys on folding glass supply. What is your answer, Corning?.

                              Personally, I think Corning Gorilla Glass (or other branded glass for that matter) are very overrated. They don't shatter on their lab-tests, but always fail in real life circumstances. I have seen too many people with cracked or shattered displays on their latest phones with these strengthened glasses, which tell me one thing, they're not really all that durable.

                              Plastic displays are much better in this regard, as they're much less likely to break (e.g. Moto X Force/ Z Force series). They get scratched up easily, but you can just apply screen protectors for that.

                              As for Sapphire glass, I'd certainly like to try it out. Unfortunately there are very few phones with such displays.

                                AnonD-558092, 25 Nov 2019Curved glass began with the Note Edge. The S7 Edge came lat... moreActually, curved glass began with LG G Flex in 2013. Instead of doing horizontal curve like the Note Edge/S6 Edge, it had vertical curves. It was far more practical IMO, as it enhanced video watching experience in landscape mode. (I have personally used G Flex2, so I speak from experience). Too bad LG killed the series after the second one due to poor sales.

                                  Anonymous, 25 Nov 2019And I am sure nobody thinks a phone with a fingerprint-ridd... moreThat doesn't matter... all the marketing shows shiny svelte renders.
                                  In real life, they are not as half as attractive.

                                  But people do follow a "sheep" mentality even for design, just look at the non-beautiful iPhone 11, or AirPods, or Apple Watch, or the latest Tesla CyberTruck. Functional design has been lost, and a balanced design has taken backseat to "style". And it's the choice of this "style" and marketing that allows OEMs to increase their profit margins at the expense of the consumer.

                                    • m
                                    • mauricioman
                                    • K0E
                                    • 25 Nov 2019

                                    the back should always be in polycarbonate, like windows era Nokias

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 7XY
                                      • 25 Nov 2019

                                      Anonymous, 25 Nov 2019And I am sure nobody thinks a phone with a fingerprint-ridd... moreYou're just going to shove your phone in a case anyway so who cares?

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • vV5
                                        • 25 Nov 2019

                                        Kangal, 25 Nov 2019"Not only that, but it allows for wireless charging while a... moreAnd I am sure nobody thinks a phone with a fingerprint-ridden and oily back is attractive.