Tired of cleaning fingerprints from your shiny new iPhone? Smudges and scratches may be a thing of the past.
Apple’s latest patent filing is raising hopes that its future gadgets will boast virtually shatter-proof, fingerprint-resistant touchscreens.
The tech world has been buzzing over the possibility since November, when Apple signed a half a billion deal with GT Advanced Technologies to supply it with so-called sapphire glass.
Sapphire “glass” isn’t glass at all. It is a thin, tough and transparent crystal ideally suited for touchscreen displays and high-end watches.
But there are drawbacks. One is the cost, which is considerably higher relative to popular touchscreen materials like Corning’s “Gorilla Glass.”
There is another hurdle as well. Apple’s iPhone and iPad screens come with an oil-resistant coating to cut down on greasy fingerprints.
Problem is, the process for applying that thin, clear polymer doesn’t work as well for sapphire glass.
This is where Apple’s latest patent comes into play. The filing describes a process that could be used to apply an “oleophobic” coating to device displays, according to AppleInsider, which first picked up on the patent.
The blog notes that the filing also “makes repeated mention of sapphire displays in phones, tablets and other portable devices.”
The material that Apple uses for its screens will be critical going forward. It is expected to roll out a new iPhone 6 with an even bigger screen to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy line.
So while Apple is coy about its plans, it may be time to put down that microfiber cleaning cloth.