It seems like a while since mobile manufacturers started highlighting Corning’s Gorilla Glass in their new device launches. Brands like Xiaomi have introduced their own “Dragon Crystal Glass，” Huawei boasts its “Kunlun Glass，” and Honor and Meizu have “Giant Rhinoceros Glass” and “Titan Glass，” respectively. Meanwhile， the once industry-leading Gorilla Glass appears to have faded into the background.
Historically， Gorilla Glass gained significant recognition， largely thanks to Apple’s iPhone， which propelled it to fame. For a considerable period， it was a ubiquitous presence in smartphones， tablets， and laptops， lauded for its durability and slim profile. At one point， a device not featuring Gorilla Glass might not have been considered truly high-end.
Corning itself has a remarkable history. Founded over a century ago， their glass wasn’t just used in iPhones; Thomas Edison’s early light bulbs also utilized their materials. Even further back， more than fifty years prior， Corning invented the world’s first low-loss optical fiber.
This longevity and innovation prompted curiosity about Corning’s current status， given its perceived lower profile in recent years.
Upon investigation， it’s clear that the notion of Corning being in decline is inaccurate; in fact， the company is thriving.
It’s important to understand that Corning’s Gorilla Glass has consistently evolved. The product line has progressed through multiple generations， from Gorilla Glass 1 through 6， followed by advancements like Victus， Armor， and 7i. As recently as a few months ago， Corning launched its new Gorilla Glass Ceramic cover glass. Reports have since emerged that Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge will feature this latest iteration.
While Apple may no longer explicitly market Gorilla Glass， their partnership with Corning for the development of Ceramic Shield， seen in iPhones since the iPhone 12， continues. This suggests that the shift away from mentioning Gorilla Glass in domestic smartphone launches is more about Chinese manufacturers pursuing their own research and development rather than a reflection of Corning’s product quality.
Furthermore， the Gorilla Glass series， while highly recognized， represents a relatively small portion of Corning’s diverse business. According to official financial reports， Corning achieved core sales of $14.469 billion in fiscal year 2024， a 7% increase year-over-year， with core net income rising by 16% to $1.699 billion.
Corning’s operations are structured across five main business segments: Display Technologies， Environmental Technologies， Fiber Optic Communications， Life Sciences， and Specialty Materials. The well-known Gorilla Glass falls under Specialty Materials， which encompasses a broader range of products beyond just mobile and tablet screens. This segment’s applications extend from aerospace and semiconductor manufacturing to consumer electronics and automotive components， including windshields， dashboards， and center console displays with products like AutoGrade™ Gorilla Glass specifically designed for automotive displays.
However， according to Corning’s fiscal year 2024 data， the Specialty Materials segment contributed only 14% of sales， and this figure includes a variety of products beyond just Gorilla Glass for mobile devices. Essentially， the mobile screen glass business， which is often perceived as Corning’s flagship offering， may not be their primary revenue driver.
The most significant contributor to Corning’s revenue is its Fiber Optic Communications segment， which accounted for 32% of net sales in fiscal year 2024. While the term “fiber optics” might sound highly technical， it primarily refers to the manufacturing and sale of fiber optic cables. Corning has deployed over 5 billion kilometers of optical fiber globally， a testament to its dominant market position.
Corning’s success in the fiber optic market stems significantly from its early mover advantage. The invention of the first low-loss optical fiber in 1970 was a groundbreaking achievement that cemented Corning’s influence and leadership in the industry. Since then， Corning has maintained its position as a top player in the fiber optic market， despite the emergence of strong competitors from China like YOFC and Hengtong Optical. Corning’s commitment to quality is also a key factor; for instance， their SMF-28® Ultra Low Loss (ULL) fiber offers exceptionally low signal loss even when tightly bent， ensuring longer and higher-quality signal transmission. As fiber optics are fundamental infrastructure， akin to electricity and water， they are indispensable for various services including internet access， telecommunications， and digital broadcasting.
Moreover， the current AI boom has propelled demand for data centers， further boosting Corning’s fiber optic business. In the second quarter of last year， Corning’s performance exceeded expectations， and its stock price saw a 12% increase， reaching its highest point in three years. This surge is directly linked to the substantial investments in AI infrastructure in the United States， where Corning is a key beneficiary.
The Display Technologies segment also contributes significantly to Corning’s revenue， accounting for 27% and primarily involving glass substrates for liquid crystal displays. Environmental Technologies and Life Sciences， while generating revenue， are considered more niche areas.
In summary， Corning’s business empire is far more extensive and diversified than often perceived. The reason behind the declining emphasis on Gorilla Glass in domestic smartphone launches can be attributed to a couple of factors. Firstly， the durability and scratch resistance of smartphone screens have become more of an expected standard rather than a groundbreaking feature， unless a truly exceptional level of resilience， like withstanding a truck’s weight， is demonstrated. Secondly， many domestic smartphone manufacturers have increasingly invested in their own research and development for screen materials. Names like “Kunlun，” “Giant Rhinoceros，” and “Dragon Crystal” suggest a focus on robust materials. Xiaomi， for example， has demonstrated its Dragon Crystal Glass outperforming both Kunlun Glass and ceramic composites in terms of Vickers hardness. Therefore， the rise of domestic alternatives naturally leads to a redistribution of market share from Corning.
However， this shift is unlikely to significantly impact Corning， a century-old， diversified enterprise with a wide array of opportunities. With such a broad and robust business portfolio， Corning is well-positioned for continued success， and there’s little cause for undue concern on its behalf.
