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by Animats 1649 days ago
Unscratchable is available. There's glass with a sapphire layer. Sapphire glass is often used for checkout scanners. Home Depot uses it.

Apple tried to use sapphire glass for phone screens around 2014, but only succeeded in driving their sapphire maker into bankruptcy.

2 comments

Sapphire glass has also been used in premium wrist watches for ages. These watches don't scratch. And when you drop the watch on the face from table height, say, it's more likely that the mechanics inside break than the glass.

I suppose that it is more difficult to handle in production, especially when you're aiming at a large surface area. But if scanners have it, this issue does not seem to be insurmountable.

Many customers would probably pay extra if they would get a phone that's as tough as a wrist watch but does not require a case.

Many customers would probably pay extra if they would get a phone that's as tough as a wrist watch but does not require a case.

Which is why I have a phone sold by Caterpillar, Inc.[1]

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVPku-xItv8

Apple uses sapphire glass in their more expensive Watch models (with non-aluminum cases)
HTC actually made a phone with real sapphire glass..