Corning has announced that its Gorilla Glass 4 is actually out in the wild already, and the Samsung Galaxy Alpha was the first device to use it.
It's surprising that the announcement comes only now, considering that the Galaxy Alpha made its debut three months ago, but there you have it.
"Using 0.4 mm Gorilla Glass 4 cover glass allows device designers greater options for sleek and modern devices while maintaining remarkable damage resistance, like in the Galaxy ALPHA," Corning touted in a press release.
"At less than 7 mm thick, the Galaxy ALPHA offers the distinctive design experience that consumers demand. Its slim profile and light weight, coupled with its durable Gorilla Glass 4 cover glass, make the Galaxy ALPHA a great fit for consumers who want a sophisticated look and feel without sacrificing functionality."
"Corning spends a great deal of time collaborating with Samsung to recommend solutions that will continually improve their device design and performance," added Cliff Hund, general manager and president of Corning East Asia. "Device makers want to go thinner without sacrificing damage resistance. Samsung is not only meeting these requirements, but is on the cutting edge of smartphone design. The Galaxy ALPHA is the culmination of our close collaboration with Samsung."
In other words, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is not only the company's first smartphone to use metal in its design, but also the very first device to rock Corning's latest Gorilla Glass 4. Until this announcement, the use of the glass had gone unnoticed.
According to Corning, its new Gorilla Glass 4 can resist drops two times better than other competing products, and has increased shock resistance, surviving 80 percent of tough drops. It measures only 0.4 millimeters in thinness, and adds extra protection against the elements and all sorts of damage. Due to the increased durability of Gorilla Glass 4, device makers can use thinner sheets of protective glass and reduce the thickness of the device.
Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha is not the only device to boast the latest protective glass from Corning. The Galaxy Note 4 flagship phablet comes with Gorilla Glass 4 as well, as Corning confirms on its website.