Corning Gorilla Glass is a family of toughened alkali-aluminosilicate cover glasses used on billions of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and wearables. The current lineup, from oldest to newest, includes Gorilla Glass 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Victus, and Victus 2, with each generation improving drop resistance, scratch resistance, or both. This article explains what each version offers, how they differ, and which devices typically use them.
What Is Gorilla Glass?
Gorilla Glass is a chemically strengthened glass produced by Corning Incorporated. The glass is placed in a molten salt bath at around 400°C, which causes smaller sodium ions in the glass to be replaced by larger potassium ions. When the glass cools, the larger ions create a compressive stress layer on the surface. This compressed outer layer makes the glass much more resistant to scratches and cracks than ordinary soda-lime glass.
The first Gorilla Glass appeared in 2007, but it gained wide attention in 2010 when it was used on the iPhone 4. Since then, Corning has released eight major versions, each designed to solve a specific problem: early versions focused on scratch resistance, later ones on drop performance, and the latest on surviving multi-meter falls onto rough surfaces.
Gorilla Glass 1 (2010)
The original Gorilla Glass was a breakthrough because it was about 20 times stronger than ordinary glass of the same thickness. It had a compressive stress layer of about 50 micrometers and could be made as thin as 0.5 mm, which allowed phone designers to use thinner, lighter glass without sacrificing durability.
Devices from 2010-2012, such as the Samsung Galaxy S II and the original Galaxy Note, used Gorilla Glass 1. It was a major improvement over the plastic and mineral glass screens of the time, but it still cracked if dropped from waist height onto concrete. Its scratch resistance was good, but not exceptional.
Gorilla Glass 2 (2012)
Gorilla Glass 2 was not a huge leap in strength. Instead, Corning made it 20% thinner than the original while maintaining the same damage resistance. This allowed manufacturers to make phones thinner or add larger batteries. The glass was also slightly more flexible, which helped it absorb impact energy.
It appeared on the Samsung Galaxy S3, LG Optimus G, and many 2012-2013 flagships. The thinner profile meant that drop performance was similar to Gorilla Glass 1, but the reduced thickness was a real advantage for device design.
Gorilla Glass 3 (2013)
Gorilla Glass 3 introduced a technology Corning called Native Damage Resistance (NDR). The glass was formulated to resist sharp contact damage, meaning it was significantly more scratch-resistant than its predecessors. Scratches are a common cause of screen failures because a deep scratch creates a stress concentration point that can lead to a crack later.
In lab tests, Gorilla Glass 3 survived up to 80% more damage than Gorilla Glass 2. It was used on the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, and many other 2013-2014 devices. However, drop performance on rough surfaces was still a weak point.
Gorilla Glass 4 (2014) and Gorilla Glass 5 (2016)
Gorilla Glass 4 was a response to the fact that most phone breakage happened from drops onto hard, rough surfaces like concrete and asphalt. Corning redesigned the glass to be more damage-resistant when dropped from a height of about 1 meter onto a rough surface. It was up to 2x better than Gorilla Glass 3 in that specific test. It appeared on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Note 4.
Gorilla Glass 5 went further, claiming survival from drops of up to 1.6 meters onto hard surfaces in 80% of cases. It was used on the Samsung Galaxy S7, Google Pixel, and many 2016-2017 flagships. This was the first version to really address the most common real-world drop scenario: a phone falling from a pocket or hand onto a sidewalk.
Gorilla Glass 6 (2018) and Gorilla Glass Victus (2020)
Gorilla Glass 6 was introduced in 2018 with a focus on surviving multiple drops. Corning’s testing showed that phones were often dropped repeatedly, not just once. Gorilla Glass 6 survived up to 15 drops from 1 meter onto hard surfaces, which was about 2x better than Gorilla Glass 5. It was used on the Samsung Galaxy S9, Note 9, and Google Pixel 3.
Gorilla Glass Victus (2020) was a major leap because it improved both drop and scratch resistance at the same time. Previous versions had to trade off one for the other. Victus survived drops from up to 2 meters onto hard surfaces and had a scratch resistance that was about 4x better than Gorilla Glass 6. It was first used on the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and later on many 2020-2021 flagships.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (2022) and Beyond
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (2022) improved drop performance on rough surfaces like concrete and asphalt. Corning claims it survives drops from up to 2 meters onto concrete, while also maintaining the scratch resistance of the original Victus. It is used on the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, Google Pixel 8, and many 2023-2024 devices.
In 2023, Corning also introduced Gorilla Glass Armor, a version with anti-reflective properties, first used on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Armor reduces reflections by up to 75% and offers improved scratch resistance, but it is not a direct successor to Victus 2; it is a specialized variant for premium devices.
How to Choose Which Gorilla Glass You Need
You cannot choose which Gorilla Glass is in your phone; the manufacturer decides. But if you are comparing devices, here is what matters:
- For drop protection: Victus 2 is the best for concrete drops. Victus and Gorilla Glass 6 are also good.
- For scratch protection: Victus and Victus 2 are the best, followed by Gorilla Glass 3 and later.
- For thin devices: Gorilla Glass 2 allowed thinner glass, but modern versions are also thin.
- For anti-glare: Gorilla Glass Armor is the only one with significant anti-reflection.
In practice, any Gorilla Glass 5 or newer is adequate for most users. The differences between Victus and Victus 2 are incremental, and a good case and screen protector matter more than the specific glass version.
Common Misconceptions
One common misconception is that Gorilla Glass is unbreakable. It is not. It is much more resistant than ordinary glass, but it can still crack under extreme force or when dropped on a sharp edge. Another misconception is that all Gorilla Glass is the same. The differences between generations are significant, especially between Gorilla Glass 3 and Victus.
Another point of confusion: Gorilla Glass is not sapphire. Sapphire is harder and more scratch-resistant, but it is more brittle and expensive. Gorilla Glass offers a better balance of toughness and scratch resistance for most devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gorilla Glass 6 better than Victus?
No. Victus is better than Gorilla Glass 6 in both drop and scratch resistance. Victus survived drops from 2 meters, while Gorilla Glass 6 survived 15 drops from 1 meter. Victus also has 4x better scratch resistance than Gorilla Glass 6.
Does Gorilla Glass scratch easily?
No, but it is not scratch-proof. Gorilla Glass 3 and later have good scratch resistance, and Victus is even better. However, sand and other hard particles can still scratch it. Using a screen protector is the best way to avoid scratches.
Which Gorilla Glass is the strongest?
As of 2024, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is the strongest for drop protection on rough surfaces, and Gorilla Glass Armor offers the best scratch resistance and anti-reflection. Corning continues to develop new versions.
Can I replace my phone’s glass with a newer Gorilla Glass?
No. The glass is fused to the display and the device’s design. You cannot swap it. If your screen breaks, you need a manufacturer-approved replacement part, which will use the same Gorilla Glass version as the original.
Does Gorilla Glass work on tablets and laptops?
Yes. Gorilla Glass is used on many tablets, laptops, and even some car displays. The same versions are used, though manufacturers may choose a thinner variant for weight reasons.
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