Apple's Use Of 'Sapphire' in iPhone Camera Lens Questioned in New Tests (theverge.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Apple has been using sapphire on its iPhone camera lenses for a few years now since the launch of the iPhone 5S, but it might not be as scratch resistant as you'd expect. A new video raises questions over Apple's use of sapphire in its iPhone camera lens, and includes scratch tests to rate its durability. While Apple claims it uses sapphire crystal in its iPhone lens, tests by YouTuber JerryRigEverything show that Apple could be using a more cost effective sapphire laminate on top of regular glass. JerryRigEverything tested Apple's iPhone lens with an XRF machine and electron microscope, and concluded that Apple doesn't use pure sapphire in its lenses. The underside of the lens contains less sapphire than the exposed part, and a scratching comparison with a Tissot sapphire watch showed that the lens cover will scratch at a level 6 on Mohs Scale of Hardness, compared to level 8 for the Tissot watch.

Comments

Re:Hard enough?

[KiloByte]

Did pulling it out of my pants a few hundred times a month scratch it?

Try having your keys in that pocket. The reason for screen hardness is not scratching by cloth or by a booger-damp tissue but with the most notorious hard item often carried in pockets. And despite Wikipedia claiming iron having a hardness of 4, steel of 4.5, it is enough to scratch a typical smartphone screen. Thus, a sapphire screen would be a major win -- if it was true.