Scratches could disappear on their own. Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra may bring a small revolution

Phone manufacturers have been competing for years over whose glass is tougher. According to a fresh leak, Samsung might try something different with the Galaxy S27 Ultra – instead of trying to prevent scratches, it wants them to disappear on their own. It sounds like a marketing dream, but the idea has a surprisingly long history.

What the leak precisely claims

The information was shared on network X by a leaker operating under the nickname Schrödinger. According to him, Samsung is working with Corning on a new self-healing surface layer for the next generation of Gorilla Armor glass. The purpose is for the surface to be able to recover over time from a certain level of everyday micro-scratching – that is, from those nicks you don’t notice for months until the sun shines on the display at the right angle.

The anticipated compromise is interesting. The surface itself is said to be somewhat softer than today’s tempered glass, according to the leak. This makes sense – a material that can self-heal must be somewhat pliable. In exchange for disappearing fine nicks, you would likely lose some resistance to deeper damage.

LG tried it back in 2015

Self-healing surfaces are not new to mobile phones. The LG G Flex 2 already had a self-healing back eleven years ago, which smoothed itself out over time and erased minor scratches. It worked, but reviewers at the time complained that the plastic material attracted fingerprints and dirt like a magnet.

Naturally, technology has advanced since then. However, the crucial difference lies in where the material would be applied. The back of a phone is one thing, but the front glass, which you touch with your fingers ten hours a day and must remain transparent, is a significantly tougher challenge.

Where facts end and speculation begins

It’s necessary to pump the brakes here. Neither Samsung nor Corning has confirmed any of this. Furthermore, the source nowhere explicitly states that the material would be intended for the front display – it could easily end up on the back of the phone. And since the Galaxy S27 Ultra is not expected until early 2027, both companies have plenty of time to change their plans or decide that the technology is not yet ready.

What remains certain is what already exists. Gorilla Armor debuted on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and primarily brought an anti-reflective layer; the second generation is then used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra. Corning states that it offers more than four times the scratch resistance compared to competing cover glass – however, this is based on its own laboratory measurements.

Would you trade some durability for a display that fixes minor scratches itself?

Sources: Android Central, Android Headlines, SammyGuru