It's that time of the year when Apple pushes out a number of updated products. As Apple fans anticipate the launch of the latest iPhone, new rumors about probable features float around the rumor mill. One of the most prominent features being talked about is the device's new glass front panel.
According to the recent rumors, Apple's new iPhone will feature a screen that's made up of sapphire crystal panel. The use of sapphire is not entirely new to the Cupertino-based company as Apple had been using sapphire for the iPhone 5S' home button cum fingerprint sensor. This claim on sapphire's toughness is challenged by Marques Brownlee, a YouTube uploader, who created a video to show "display scratching tests" on sapphire glass.
The idea is to prove that the upcoming iPhone 6's sapphire screen display is really tough while considering a commercially-competitive price point despite its "futuristic" and top quality display.
Brownlee based his judgments on Mohs scale of mineral hardness with a scale rating of 1 to 10. For the record, the Gorilla Glass display found in the iPhone 5s earned a 6.8 rating. Likewise, the Touch ID home button of the iPhone 5s earned a 9 rating.
During the test, Brownlee used two variants of sandpaper such as garnet and emery. Using the Mohs scale, the garnet sandpaper reached a seven rating while the emery rated a little over eight.
What Brownlee did was to rub the iPhone 6's display panel with the two types of sandpaper. For comparison purposes, he did the same procedure to the iPhone 5s. While both models showed resistance to scratching, it is more obvious in the iPhone 6' screen display which proves that it has better resistance compared to its older sibling.
The same feature can be seen on the iPhone 5s' Touch ID home button. Made of real sapphire glass, it appeared unbelievably clean and scratch-free after the sandpaper scratching test.
The results suggest that the iPhone 6's 4.7 inch display is not really sapphire crystal but something that is so much better than the Gorilla Glass, perhaps a next-generation feature that is yet to be launched. There's also the possibility that the new iPhone 6 will sport a sapphire display which falls on a hybrid spectrum based on the patent made by Apple in 2013.
The iPhone 6 is scheduled to be launched in early September and is said to hit the stores a few weeks afterwards. The new Apple device will have iterations of 4.7 and 5.5 inches. While it's not confirmed if they are launching on a similar date, both models would feature an enhanced A8 processor, a slimmer profile, better camera, and iOS 8.
