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

Posted by msmash on from the in-quest-of-real-sapphire dept.

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.

4 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. People misunderstand "made with sapphire" by Kichigai+Mentat · · Score: 5, Funny

    No no no no, people are totally misunderstanding what Apple means when they say their stuff is made "with sapphires," not "out of sapphires." Like when I say "I made this with my friend," there's a chunk of sapphire on the factory floor that people work with, like an pet rock.

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    Rawr
  2. Hard enough? by Aaden42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Did pulling it out of my pants a few hundred times a month scratch it? No? Good. Guess it was hard enough.

    Oh... And my phone's okay too!

  3. Re:And yet, consumers are silent. by Shimbo · · Score: 5, Informative

    Other than perhaps a Kardashian, no one is carrying around diamonds in their pockets to scratch their pseudo-sapphire iPhone lens.

    If it is only 6 on the Mohs scale it means that it will be scratched by quartz, so if you have dirt in your pocket it may get scratched.

  4. Sapphire crystal lens cover by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you check their website Apple states 'Sapphire crystal lens cover' in the specs of their phones: http://www.apple.com/ca/iphone... , so if you are trying to scratch the underside claiming sapphire, then you are probably doing something wrong?

    Is this a non-story or did I miss something?

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    Jumpstart the tartan drive.