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With each new Apple rumor that hits the online press,
eTech Parts receives at least one phone call or message from a loyal repair shop customer, asking us what we think about it all. How will a stronger screen display affect the iPhone repair industry? What’s the deal with this “sapphire crystal”? And, will a thinner phone make repairs even more difficult?
Maybe you’ve read the dozens of articles reporting on Apple’s
increased production of synthetic sapphire, which has led many to believe Apple will incorporate this new technology into their next lineup of iDevices. Many iPhone repair technicians fear an “indestructible” iPhone is lurking around the corner, or equally worse – an
unrepairable iPhone.
Reports detailing the pros and cons of sapphire boast of its scratch resistance and high rating on the Mohs hardness scale, while
seemingly forgetting to point out that hardness
does not equal strength. Sapphire might be difficult to scratch, but it in turn shatters quite easily. As reported by
The Verge, “The qualities that make sapphire attractive as a material also make it a nightmare to work with.”
iPhone 6 Concept by Federico Ciccarese
Creating synthetic sapphire is also about ten times more expensive when
compared to Corning’s Gorilla Glass. If Apple were to incorporate sapphire displays into their next lineup of iPhones, it would greatly increase the overall price of the phone – even if they are
taking care of sapphire production in-house. Analysts
estimate the price of an iPhone with a sapphire display would be about $100 more than the current price of an iPhone on-contract. Some reporters believe this will be the first of the rumored “high-end” iPhones to be released next year.
Apple filed for a patent detailing the use of oleophobic coating on sapphire displays. The patent,
as reported by MacRumors, "..details a multi-layer display material with a base sapphire layer, a transition layer that serves to bond the surface layer to the base layer and finally a surface layer with an oleophobic coating." This would likely decrease the chances of glass-only repairs being a viable option for repairs and would also increase the cost of full assembly screen displays.
Did you hear Samsung and LG are
looking into sapphire displays now, too?
While a sapphire display would be a brand new feature for the iPhone, you know what devices utilize sapphire quite regularly? Watches! Watch manufacturers will often use sapphire instead of glass for its scratch-resistant qualities. Maybe this focus on synthetic sapphire and
LiquidMetal bonding technology is for use in the long-rumored “iWatch” we’ve all heard so much about, and
not for the upcoming iPhone LCD display.
But alas, only time will tell! While we hear the rumors ourselves and might even get a
little worried when these reports are released, we have to remind ourselves a rumor is just that: a rumor. Anyone can speculate and write about what they
think Apple is going to release next – proven by the fact I just did it myself! Not until Apple announces the product can we determine if it’s real or not. Speculating the “what-ifs” can be pretty fun though, so let us know in the comments below what YOU think - we always love hearing from the
Repair Community!
iPhone 6 Concept by Federico Ciccarese