It’s easy to assume that companies like Honor, Huawei, and Xiaomi are trying to save money by using their own-developed products instead of the relatively expensive Gorilla Glass. However, based on comments made by representatives of these companies, there may be other explanations. In at least some cases, it’s entirely possible that Gorilla Glass simply fails to meet these manufacturers’ needs.
While many still use Gorilla Glass, others are developing in-house solutions
Corning’s own list of products still using Gorilla Glass indicates that not all major tech makers have abandoned the product. It remains a popular option for smartphones from major companies like Samsung, Google, Motorola, Nokia, and many others. It’s also worth noting that for several years, Apple has used Ceramic Shield glass. Although it’s not technically the same thing as Gorilla Glass, it is another Corning product.
Companies that stopped using Gorilla Glass gave various reasons in their statements to Android Authority. For example, Honor’s statement said it considered using Gorilla Glass in some of its products, but Corning didn’t provide the ideal solution for the company’s needs. This forced the company to develop its own solution: “In 2021, the industry lacked a glass-ceramic solution suitable for curved screen smartphones, forcing Honor to invest in research into glass-ceramic technology. The first-generation technology was applied to the Honor Magic 3 Pro Plus in 2021, and in 2024, the Honor Magic 6 featured Honor’s next-generation glass-ceramic technology, Honor NanoCrystal Shield.
Honor’s statement goes on to say that the company will still use “Corning Gorilla Glass or other third-party solutions” for its Number and
It is still unclear whether the alternatives are superior to Gorilla Glass
To varying degrees, companies that choose not to use Gorilla Glass say their own alternatives offer better scratch resistance and other key features. However, objective tests have yet to confirm these claims. For what it’s worth, informal testing has shown that Corning products like Gorilla Armor aren’t necessarily invulnerable to damage when phones equipped with these products are dropped.
These types of technical details may seem of little importance to the average consumer. In general, though, it’s wise to pay attention to the materials a company uses when selecting a new smartphone or other similar device. Depending on your lifestyle and usage, you want to ensure your investment stays in good condition for as long as possible. Consumers will have to wait and see how Gorilla Glass alternatives perform on this front.
