Vivo S12 Pro Smartphone to Feature SCHOTT Xensation® α Cover Glass

The international technology group SCHOTT, inventor of specialty glass and pioneer in the development of groundbreaking glass types, proudly welcomes the world's first smartphone featuring Xensation^® α (Alpha): the vivo S12 Pro. Xensation^® α is the latest generation cover glass shortly launched by the company, offering an improved drop resistance compared to lithium aluminosilicate (LAS) and aluminosilicate (AS) cover glass types.

"At SCHOTT, we have enjoyed a successful partnership with vivo over the last couple of years. That's why we are excited that their S12 Pro will be the world's first smartphone to feature our new Xensation^® α cover glass," says Dr. Lutz Klippe, Product Group Manager at SCHOTT.

Xensation^® α: A new generation of cover glass

Launched in late 2021, Xensation^® α is a chemically strengthened lithium alumino borosilicate (LABS) glass. Besides the industry-standard ingredients lithium and aluminum, Xensation^® α contains the semimetal boron. This combination produces an extremely powerful high-end cover glass for smartphones with substantial improvements in drop and scratch resistance. The advantages of Xensation^® α include:

• Significantly improved drop resistance from double the height* (also "set drop performance" or "drop performance") compared to other LAS-based premium cover glasses – especially on impact with rugged or sharp-edged, rough surfaces.
• Less susceptible to scratches than commercially available aluminosilicate (AS) and LAS cover glass types, as Knoop-diamond indenter lab tests show.
• Combining the outstanding character of LAS glass in terms of chemical strengthening potential with the scratch performance of borosilicate glass and a strong glass network as known from glass-ceramics.

Xensation^® α is a prime example of how a traditional company like SCHOTT, which is more than 130 years old, can channel more than a century of experience into original and inventive new products. Otto Schott, the company's founder, was the first to document the addition of lithium to a glass mixture as part of his far-reaching experiments that ultimately led to the invention of specialty glass. Xensation^® α continues this legacy.

A trusted partnership

SCHOTT and vivo have enjoyed a close and trusted partnership over several years, and the two companies have a successful history of smartphone collaborations. Xensation^® Up. has previously been featured on previous vivo high-end models including the vivo X70 Pro, the X60 Pro, the vivo NEX 3, and vivo S9.

SCHOTT further strengthens its position in the high-end cover glass business through its latest innovation for foldable smartphones (foldables): The mass-produced flexible and chemically strengthened ultra-thin glass (UTG) Xensation^® Flex enables premium smartphones with flexible screens. As a supplier to Samsung, SCHOTT is proud to enable a new device generation.

*= This testing process, which is designed to reflect the everyday use of smartphones, uses a smartphone dummy dropped from increasing heights onto a hard surface covered in sandpaper. Xensation^® α can survive drops without breaking from up to twice the maximum height as compared to LAS cover glass.