Moto Z2 Force: Motorola’s ‘ShatterShield’ technology explained

Lenovo-owned Motorola on Thursday launched its first Moto Z phone with a Shattershield display. The display technology has been available on Motorola's X-series with a "Force" moniker. For instance, Moto X Force which launched in India a couple of years ago was guaranteed that its screen would not break.

With Moto Z2 Force, Motorola has now introduced the display technology into its premium and flagship smartphone series. The technology helps the smartphone screen survive drops on a rough surface without getting any dent or major scratches. The internet is flooded with drop test videos of Moto X Force and other Motorola phones with Shattershield technology.

What is Shattershield technology?

Motorola's Shattershield technology is essentially a combination of multiple layers of protection that guards against dents and abrasion, a common pain point for premium smartphone users.

Shattershield includes five layers with an aluminium chassis at the base that is supposed to provide structural durability. On top of it is an AMOLED display layer that is supposed to absorb shock while delivering a high-quality display experience.

There's a dual touch layer aimed at protecting the touch screen whereas an interior lens is supposed to be a protective shield that doesn't get dented.

Finally, there's an exterior protective lens that is supposed to provide additional security against dents.

Screen dent issues

One of the common issues that smartphone users face is the fragile screens that are vulnerable to dents and scratches. With more phones coming with slimmer body and slippery side panels, users are forced to add on a tempered screen on the phone, even if it means less smooth-touch experience. Nowadays, a lot of phones come with glass back panels as well, making them equally vulnerable to dents and abrasions.

Corning, the most popular company that specialises in glasses and related materials, provides Gorilla Glass protection for the smartphones. Its latest Gorilla Glass 5 is capable of "surviving 1.6-meter, shoulder-height drops onto hard, rough surfaces up to 80% of the time."

"That's up to 4X better in drop failure height than competitive glasses, giving consumers the drop protection they need if they fumble their phones while snapping photos, texting on the go, watching videos, or performing other everyday activities at or below shoulder level," the company claims on its website.

Some of the popular phones that come with Gorilla Glass 5 protection are Samsung Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, and HTC U Ultra.