To accurately assess and compare the performance of different Gorilla Glass variants, it is essential to first understand the fundamental materials science that imparts their signature toughness.

The Base Material: Alkali-Aluminosilicate Glass

The foundation of Gorilla Glass is a specialized family of glass known as alkali-aluminosilicate. Its primary chemical constituents are silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and alkali oxides. This composition is deliberately chosen for its unique properties, enhancing the intrinsic strength, hardness, and chemical durability of the glass structure.

The Ion-Exchange Process

The core of Gorilla Glass's strength is imparted through a chemical treatment known as ion exchange. Glass sheets are immersed in a bath of molten potassium salt at approximately 400°C. During this process, smaller sodium ions from the glass are replaced by larger potassium ions from the salt bath. As the glass cools, this atomic-level crowding creates a layer of high residual compressive stress on the surface of the glass, which acts as a microscopic suit of armor, making it exceptionally resistant to cracks.

Click on the labels to toggle data visibility. This chart compares key hardness and toughness metrics.

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A persistent narrative, echoed in community forums like Reddit, suggests newer Gorilla Glass is more prone to micro-scratches. For instance, a recent discussion among Sony Xperia owners highlighted frustration with the new Xperia 1 VI (which uses Victus 2), where users reported accumulating fine scratches much faster than on older models. Labeling Victus 2 as a "downgrade" ignores the fundamental shifts in engineering priorities.

The core of this issue is the trade-off between shatter and scratch resistance. The design goals for GG6 and Victus 2 were different:

• Gorilla Glass 6 (2018): The goal was surviving multiple, successive drops. Its composition was optimized for repeated, lower-energy impact resilience.
• Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (2022): With phones becoming heavier, the goal shifted to surviving a single, higher-energy drop onto a tougher surface like concrete. To achieve this, the glass composition had to be made more ductile to absorb the impact.

This increased ductility is the likely culprit behind the perceived increase in micro-scratches. A slightly "softer" surface, while excellent at absorbing impact, is more susceptible to being marked by harder particles like sand. In conclusion, Victus 2 is not a downgrade, but a product of re-prioritization. Corning sacrificed some degree of surface hardness to gain a significant improvement in shatter resistance against the most common and severe type of real-world drop.

Executive Summary

Corning's 7th-gen portfolio reveals a sophisticated, segmented strategy. Victus 2 is the durability champion for flagships, defined by its 1-meter drop survival on concrete. 7i is the cost-engineered workhorse for the mid-range, democratizing modern durability. Victus+ is a strategic marketing variant for Samsung, not a distinct technological step.

Actionable Insights for Consumers

It is crucial to understand that even the most advanced glass is not indestructible. The significant improvements in shatter resistance may come with a trade-off in susceptibility to fine micro-scratches from particles like sand. For users who are particularly sensitive to these cosmetic imperfections, the use of a high-quality third-party screen protector remains a prudent and recommended investment.

The Future: Beyond Victus

The innovation is relentless. Gorilla Armor, debuting on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, improves durability while also reducing screen reflectance by up to 75%. Looking even further, glass-ceramic materials in products like Gorilla Armor 2 mark the next evolutionary leap, embedding crystals within the glass to further enhance toughness. This positions the Victus lineup as the mature platform from which these next-generation innovations are now emerging.