Galaxy S6 and LG G4 to Feature Specs That Include Sapphire Screen Covers
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and LG G4 could feature specs that include sapphire screen covers.
A report from Korean site ET News cited inside sources as saying that both LG and Samsung have recently asked suppliers to provide samples of sapphire covers for their screen.
The report also discussed the demand and price for sapphire.
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"As late as last year, cell phone makers tried very hard to lower the price of sapphire," said a sapphire ingot industry insider. "But this year as the mood swung toward using good materials to get premium prices, related industries are responding to the market more actively."
Samsung has considered using sapphire in the past, but passed on the opportunity due to it being too expensive to mass produce. Inviting manufacturers to submit samples doesn't set anything in stone.
Apple uses sapphire on the iPhone 5s as the material that covers its fingerprint sensor. It is extremely durable and tough to break and would make for a sturdier replacement of the Gorilla Glass used on many of today's high-end smartphones.
If Samsung did decide to use this premium material, it would most likely show up on its next-gen flagship the Galaxy S6. The G4 would be the main candidate for LG as that's quickly become the company's most heralded device. There is also the possibility of HTC joining in and using the material on an M8 successor.
Screen cracking seems to be the most common problem for smartphone users. A device that has an uncrackable display will have a significant advantage over the competition. A water and dust-proof model would be even more enticing if it was also shatterproof. However, the material might still be too expensive for that to happen.
