Nothing is more frustrating than a broken screen caused by dropping your smartphone. In fact, a recent study found that the top complaint consumers report is the glass cover on their electronic devices. This is no surprise, especially since 85% of cell phone users have reported dropping their phone at least once.
When it comes to the ultimate innovations in screen technology, Corning Gorilla Glass sets the bar for honing and reinventing the highest-grade glass for cell phones. Their latest advancement in high tech glass is the Gorilla Glass 5, a noticeable upgrade from the Glass 4. This glass is designed to protect screens from oil, dirt, and water with its additional oleophobic coating that also keeps your display free of smudge marks. Discover which cell phone screen is the most durable for your lifestyle and needs with this guide that compares specifications, materials, and design innovations.
iPhone 7
The iPhone 7 screen features a 4.7” retina HD display with an LED-backlit widescreen and is made with Gorilla Glass 5, Corning’s latest and toughest glass cover for mobile devices. In recent lab tests, the company found that phones protected with Gorilla Glass 5 have an 80% chance of not being damaged after falling from heights of up to 5.25 feet. For millennials, this is great news, especially since studies show that this demographic drop their phones four times a week on average, which is twice as often as Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. With that kind of toughness, you can rest assured that you won’t destroy your phone every time you have a clumsy moment, or at least 80% of the time.
Galaxy S7
The Galaxy S7 screen is designed to absorb shock and maintain flexibility during a drop instead of shattering like most screens. Also containing a dual touch layer for extra protection, the water-resistant Samsung Galaxy S7 has a 5.1” Quad HD Super AMOLED display featuring damage-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 4. This type of screen is the strongest on the market, but not quite as drop and scratch resistance as the iPhone 7 made with Gorilla Glass 5. Still, with the other benefits, such as the AMOLED display and its anti-drop design make up for the less advanced Gorilla Glass 4 materials. The Galaxy S7 screen also has the advantage of a IP68-rating, which means it is dust and water resistant. Compared to the iPhone 7, which has an IP67-rating and guarantees protection for up to 30 minutes when submerged in water, the Galaxy S7 screen can be underwater for the same time but at deeper depths. The iPhone 7 has a stronger screen with the recent innovation of Gorilla Glass but the Galaxy S7 screen is tougher when it comes to water resistance.
Google Pixel
Featuring a 5’’ display and FHD AMOLED with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4, the Google Pixel screen is just as strong as the Galaxy S7. With a screen made from Corning Gorilla Glass 4, it is still one of the toughest screens on the market, second only to the Gorilla Glass 5 contained in iPhone 7 screens. The recent upgrade of Gorilla Glass does offer more rugged protection from drops of higher distances, but the Glass 4 is still a top quality material for screens that have passed multiple scratch-and-drop tests. It also has an IP53 rating, which means that the screen is water and dust resistant, but not as much as the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 screens.
LG G6
Featuring a 5.7” screen with QHD resolution, the LG G6 is the first smartphone to use a ratio display of 18:9 rather than the popular 16:9. After trimming away the sharp edges and designing the screen with curved corners, the LG G6 is now more resilient to drops because the round edges help to dissipate the force more evenly, which considerably lowers the risk of a cracked screen. Even with a thinner screen of 1mm thickness, the LG G6 has succeeded in being competitive with other popular phones like the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7. It might not have an AMOLED display like the Google Pixel or Galaxy, but the 2,880 x 1,440 resolution and Dolby Vision support give the screen sharp blacks and vivid colors. When it comes to screen strength, the LG G6 uses top materials but still falls behind the Pixel, Galaxy, and iPhone models with its screen made with Gorilla Glass 3.
According to studies, the average cell phone user spends an hour everyday starring at their handsets, whether it’s spent checking email, texting, looking at pics, playing games, or watching videos. With so much time spend glancing at the screen, cell phone manufacturers have answered the call for top innovations in display technology, including screen strength. Companies are racing to design top-rated phones with the strongest, most resilient screens that offer a vibrant display and resistance to water, dust, and damage. With displays being one of the most important features for cell phone users, expect to see more high tech screen innovations in the future.
