Where Did Corning Gorilla Glass Go in Chinese Smartphone Launches?

Remember when smartphone makers couldn’t stop touting Corning’s Gorilla Glass with every new release? Those days seem to be fading fast.

Chinese brands are flexing their innovation muscles with proprietary screen technologies like Xiaomi’s Longjing Glass, Huawei’s Kunlun Glass, and offerings from Honor and Meizu. Has Corning, once the undisputed champion of durable smartphone screens, quietly disappeared from the arena?

Rewind to the Steve Jobs era. The iPhone catapulted Gorilla Glass to fame, and for years, it was ubiquitous in smartphones, tablets, and laptops. If you didn’t have Gorilla Glass protecting your premium device, were you even trying?

Corning itself is a fascinating story.

A century-old company, its glass wasn’t just for iPhones. Thomas Edison’s lightbulbs used Corning’s glass too! And more than half a century ago, they pioneered the first low-loss optical fiber.

So, what’s the real story behind Corning’s apparent retreat from the spotlight?

The answer? Corning isn’t just surviving; they’re thriving.

The key is understanding that the Gorilla Glass saga continues. It’s not a static product.

From the original Gorilla Glass to subsequent iterations like Victus, Armor, and 7i, Corning has been continuously innovating.

Just recently, they unveiled Gorilla Glass Ceramic, with rumors suggesting Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge could be one of the first to feature it.

While Apple may not explicitly brand their screens with the Gorilla Glass name, their Ceramic Shield, introduced with the iPhone 12, is the result of ongoing collaboration with Corning.

The narrative isn’t about Corning failing; it’s about Chinese smartphone brands forging their own paths with homegrown technologies.

And here’s the kicker: Gorilla Glass, the product many associate with Corning’s success, is just a small piece of a much larger pie.

For fiscal year 2024, Corning reported core sales of $14.47 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase, and core net income of $1.7 billion, up 16%. While Gorilla Glass plays a role, it’s far from the dominant force.

Corning’s business is structured around five key segments: Display Technologies, Environmental Technologies, Optical Communications, Life Sciences, and Specialty Materials.

Gorilla Glass falls under the Specialty Materials umbrella. However, this segment encompasses far more than just smartphone and tablet screens.

From aerospace and semiconductors to consumer electronics and automotive, Corning’s materials are found everywhere. AutoGrade Gorilla Glass, for instance, is specifically designed for automotive displays.

Still, according to Corning’s 2024 financials, Specialty Materials only accounts for 14% of sales, and this includes a diverse range of products, not solely smartphone glass.

The reality is, Corning’s powerhouse isn’t necessarily the smartphone screen business we all assume it to be.

The true revenue driver is their Optical Communications segment, contributing a substantial 32% of net sales in 2024.

Optical Communications, in essence, deals with the manufacturing and selling of optical fiber and cables.

The company has deployed over 5 billion kilometers of optical fiber globally. That’s enough to wrap around the Earth approximately 12,500 times.

One of the primary reasons for their success in fiber optics is the first-mover advantage.

In 1970, Corning invented the first low-loss optical fiber, a groundbreaking innovation that solidified their industry dominance.

Since then, Corning has maintained its leadership position in optical fiber. While domestic Chinese players have emerged, they haven’t been able to unseat Corning from its throne.

Furthermore, Corning takes pride in its reputation for quality and performance.

Take their SMF-28 ULL optical fiber, for instance. Even when densely packed and bent, it exhibits exceptionally low signal loss. Lower loss translates to greater transmission distance and superior signal quality.

Fiber optics are the backbone of modern infrastructure. From Internet access to phone calls and television, we rely on fiber optics.

The AI boom has also created opportunities. In Q2 of last year, Corning’s performance exceeded expectations due to AI-driven demand, leading to a 12% surge in their stock price, the highest point in three years.

As AI infrastructure expands, Corning is riding the wave. Perhaps even Altman’s ambitious StarGate project will rely on Corning’s expertise.

Display Technologies, which provides glass substrates for LCDs, is another significant revenue stream (27% of sales). The remaining segments, Environmental Technologies and Life Sciences, are more niche and won’t be discussed in detail here.

In short, Corning’s business empire is far more extensive than many realize.

So, why are smartphone manufacturers no longer showcasing Gorilla Glass? It’s partly because screen durability has become a baseline expectation. Unless a screen can withstand being run over by a truck, it’s not particularly noteworthy.

Additionally, many Chinese brands have shifted towards in-house screen development.

Names like Kunlun, King Kong Rhinoceros, and Longjing evoke a sense of robustness. Xiaomi’s Longjing Glass, when compared to Kunlun Glass and Ceramic Shield, demonstrated superior Vickers hardness.

As the wave of domestic alternatives rises, it’s only natural that Corning’s Gorilla Glass market share has diminished to some extent.

However, this isn’t necessarily a setback for Corning.

Ultimately, for a diversified, century-old company, opportunities are abundant. So, instead of worrying about Corning, perhaps it’s time to decide what to have for dinner.