Corning’s “Gorilla Glass” has made a name for itself in the smartphone and tablet market, because it resists breaking and scratching better than standard cover glass. The company has upped its game with the release of Gorilla Glass SR+, designed for use on smartwatches and other wearable devices.
This new formulation resists damage from impacts even better than before, and is even more difficult to scratch. In fact, the test results show that it is nearly the same as sapphire in terms of scratch resistance, yet delivers significantly better optical clarity which translates to bright displays and longer battery life. It delivers all this even when thinner than standard glass or even sapphire. The result is a thinner and lighter device while providing equivalent strength.
Gorilla Glass SR+ gives wearable designers a new material to use in their products. As I have often said, wearables need to “disappear” into our lives if they are to be effective. A lighter and thinner device with longer battery life will encourage users to stick with the device and not just shove it into a drawer after the novelty wears off. And a more durable cover for fragile displays means that users won’t have to worry about their wearables during normal activity. The less you have to think about a wearable device, the more likely you are to use it.
