Sapphire and Steel Have Been Assigned to Apple:

A hint that Apple could be working on an exceptionally durable screen for its next range of devices has been uncovered in a patent application.

Most high-end smartphone manufacturers rely on glass supplied by Corning for their displays as it is noted for its high resistance to scratches and damage. But even the Gorilla glass cannot withstand the occasional clumsy act by their users.

Now Apple appears to be looking to Sapphire as a possible replacement.

A patent details a method of growing sapphire sheets and then using lasers to cut them into the correct size for display covers. Apparently they need to use lasers as conventional cutting materials would blunt too quickly on the hard sapphire to make their use uneconomic.

However, lasers also tend to cut faster, and are often used in manufacturing processes, so that hardness claim may be a bluff by the company.