October 8, 2014: Apple says it’s “shocked” after GT Superior Applied sciences, the provider beforehand rumored to make ultra-strong sapphire glass shows for the iPhone 6, recordsdata for chapter.
The announcement seems to mark the top of the highway for sapphire glass iPhone screens, a extremely anticipated improve that promised to make gadgets extra sturdy however by no means arrived.
Apple’s sapphire glass take care of GT Superior Applied sciences
Up till the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, sapphire glass screens remained one of many largest rumored upgrades for Apple’s smartphones. Forward of the gadgets’ unveiling, the prospect excited many individuals. YouTube movies purporting to indicate iPhone 6 sapphire shows resisting knife scrapes received folks amped. One survey even confirmed that customers’ most-anticipated iPhone 6 function was a sapphire show.
To attempt to make this a actuality, Apple signed a take care of GT Superior Applied sciences in November 2013. The pact included a $578 million cost from Apple to hurry up “the event of its subsequent technology, giant capability ASF furnaces to ship low value, excessive quantity manufacturing of sapphire materials.”
This could happen at a plant in Mesa, Arizona. Nonetheless, Apple by no means confirmed its curiosity in sapphire glass iPhone shows. Nonetheless, because the rumors grew stronger, GT’s inventory worth rose.
Sadly, issues unraveled behind the scenes. Supposedly sad with GT’s progress, Apple withheld its last $139 million cost. Sapphire yield charges of 25% or much less reportedly upset Cupertino.
The tip of the highway for sapphire iPhone screens
Seeing no means ahead, Apple rolled out the iPhone 6 with out the rumored sapphire glass show, inflicting GT Superior Applied sciences’ inventory to plummet. (GT’s CEO reportedly made $10 million offloading his shares forward of the iPhone 6 occasion.)
In early October 2014, GT all of the sudden filed for chapter. Courtroom paperwork revealed that the corporate blamed Apple for its woes. The sapphire-maker stated Apple “imposed oppressive and burdensome phrases and obligations on GTAT.” Finally, Cupertino’s calls for made GT’s “continued efficiency” not “a viable enterprise possibility,” the corporate stated.
Apple, in the meantime, stated it will give attention to preserving jobs in Arizona, the place GT’s manufacturing unit went belly-up.
“We’re targeted on preserving jobs in Arizona following GT’s stunning choice and we’ll proceed to work with state and native officers as we think about our subsequent steps,” Apple spokesman Chris Gaither stated.
The 1.3-million-square-foot facility wound up changing into a brand new Apple knowledge heart for 150 full-time workers.
Ceramic Protect arrives to save lots of the day
Years later, we nonetheless don’t have our iPhone sapphire glass shows. Nonetheless, the Ceramic Protect know-how launched in iPhone 12 (and up to date for the iPhone 16 sequence) makes present screens fairly sturdy. The specifically engineered glass is heat-treated to develop nanocrystals much like these present in ceramics.
Apple showcased Ceramic Protect in 2021’s “Fumble” advert, which you’ll watch under.