Tim Cook highlighted Apple's $2.5 billion investment in US glass development and hinted at further investments.

While the type of glass used to protect the screens of the new iPhone Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17 might seem less significant than other features, Apple CEO Tim Cook's promotion of Corning's Ceramic Shield 2 technology on national television highlights its importance.

Apple and Corning recently announced a partnership to ensure all cover glass for iPhones and Apple Watches globally will be manufactured in the US. Cook has emphasized the American jobs created by this agreement and hinted at further efforts to boost the local economy.

Manufacturing an entire mobile phone in the US is currently impractical, particularly at the scale of iPhone production. However, Apple is gradually shifting the production of certain components from countries like China and Vietnam to the US.

Both Apple's CEO and Corning's CEO Wendell Weeks have noted the difficulty of moving iPhone and Apple Watch glass production, as some volume was already being produced in Kentucky. To expand production to cover global sales, a significant increase in volume was necessary in Kentucky, where Apple now has a Corning factory fully dedicated to its products.

Apple has pledged $2.5 billion for this investment and plans to spend $600 billion in the US over the next four years on various ventures, including a collaboration with TSMC for system-on-a-chip manufacturing. The company is addressing iPhone production component by component, a process that will take considerable time.

Corning, known for Gorilla Glass, is a key player in glass and ceramic manufacturing. However, Apple asserts that Gorilla Glass is outdated. While Corning's CEO suggests equal treatment of all partners, Apple's $2.5 billion investment indicates a special relationship.

Corning is open to collaborating with Samsung on a competitor to Ceramic Shield and Ceramic Shield 2. Currently, Corning's work for Apple is exclusive and likely superior to Samsung's Gorilla Armor and Gorilla Armor 2.

Although a direct comparison of Ceramic Shield 2 and Gorilla Armor 2 is not yet possible, Apple and Corning claim that the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 family's cover glass is about 50 percent stronger than the first Ceramic Shield generation, offering improved scratch resistance and reduced glare.

Despite these advancements, glass remains susceptible to damage. Nevertheless, Apple's efforts to bring jobs back to the US are positive for the economy, and its collaboration with Corning aims to create more durable glass.

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