Apple’s ceramic shield is a new technology that the company plans to use in its upcoming iPhone. The shield is made of a hard, durable material that will protect the phone’s screen from scratches and other damage. The shield is made of two parts: an outer layer of ceramic and an inner layer of aluminum. When the phone is dropped, the ceramic will absorb the impact while the aluminum protects the screen. The shield was first announced at Apple’s annual shareholders meeting last month and was met with mixed reactions. Some people were excited about the new technology, while others were concerned about how it would affect battery life. Apple plans to release the iPhone with the ceramic shield in 2018. ..

Ceramic Shield Uses Ceramic Nanocrystals

Ceramic Shield gets its name from the ceramic nanocrystals that are incorporated into the glass. The structure of these crystals helps to strengthen the glass and protect against chips and cracks.

Another process used in the technology is dual ion exchange, which means larger ion sizes for a more solid end product. Both of these technologies combine to create a tougher display that Apple used in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 family of devices.

Like other smartphone manufacturers, Apple previously used Corning’s Gorilla Glass in their earlier models. Ceramic Shield is also manufactured by Corning, but the company manufactures it specifically for Apple so it is only found in Apple models.

RELATED: Is Your Phone’s Touch Screen Damaged? Avoid These Bad Repair Tips

How Does Ceramic Shield Stack Up?

Apple claims that Ceramic Shield is the toughest smartphone glass on the market, but the company is characteristically short on evidence to support that claim.

The agreement between Corning and Apple ensures that Ceramic Shield remains an Apple-exclusive technology. It’s unclear how much tougher Ceramic Shield is compared to Corning’s alternative Gorilla Glass Victus, favored by rival Samsung.

While drop test videos exist, varying methodology and limited sample sizes can make it difficult to draw solid conclusions. One thing is certain: even with an iPhone model that uses Ceramic Shield, the best protection for any smartphone is a good case (or several).

Get a Case Too

The iPhone 13 may have Ceramic Shield protection but it can and will still shatter if you drop it from high enough. Check out the best iPhone 13 cases to protect against drops.

The iPhone SE is also highly drop-resistant, but you can do even better with a good iPhone SE case.