October 8, 2014: Apple says it’s “stunned” after GT Superior Applied sciences, the provider rumored to be manufacturing ultra-strong sapphire glass shows for the brand new iPhone 6, says it should file for chapter.
The announcement seems to mark the top of the street for sapphire glass iPhone screens, a extremely anticipated improve that promised to make gadgets extra sturdy.
Apple’s sapphire glass cope with GT Superior Applied sciences
Up till the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus launch, sapphire glass screens remained one of many largest rumored upgrades. Forward of the gadgets’ unveiling, the prospect excited many individuals. YouTube movies purporting to point out iPhone 6 sapphire shows resisting knife scrapes received individuals amped. One survey even confirmed that buyers’ most-anticipated iPhone 6 function was a sapphire show.
To try to make this a actuality, Apple signed a cope with GT Superior Applied sciences in November 2013. The pact included a $578 million cost from Apple to hurry up “the event of its subsequent era, massive capability ASF furnaces to ship low value, excessive quantity manufacturing of sapphire materials.”
This may happen at a plant in Mesa, Arizona. Nonetheless, Apple by no means confirmed its curiosity in sapphire 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 ultimate $139 million cost. Sapphire yield charges of 25% or much less reportedly disillusioned Cupertino.
The top of the street for sapphire iPhone screens
Seeing no approach ahead, Apple rolled out the iPhone 6 with out the rumored sapphire 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 immediately 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 deal with preserving jobs in Arizona, the place GT’s manufacturing facility went belly-up. The 1.3-million-square-foot facility wound up turning into a brand new Apple information middle for 150 full-time staff.
Years later, we nonetheless don’t have our sapphire iPhone shows. Nonetheless, the Ceramic Defend know-how launched in iPhone 12 makes present screens fairly sturdy. The specifically engineered glass is heat-treated to develop nanocrystals just like these present in ceramics.
Apple showcased Ceramic Defend within the “Fumble” advert, which you’ll watch beneath.