Could the iPhone 7 have a tougher screen?

A smashed screen could be a thing of the past for iPhone 7 users. Photo / iStock

There is nothing more troubling than the feeling of dropping your iPhone, only to realise you have once again cracked its screen.

Thankfully, the heartbreaking feeling of using a phone with a shattered screen or paying big dollars to have it replaced is set to become a thing of the past.

New York-based glassmaker Corning has been responsible for the display screens on every incarnation of the iPhone since the very beginning.

While the product known as Gorilla Glass has helped make iPhones somewhat resilient to scratches and drops, everyone still knows someone with a cracked phone screen.

To combat this massive concern, Corning has announced the fifth iteration of Gorilla Glass, which has been specifically designed to offer more protection and durability during accidental drops.

During lab tests, Corning discovered its Gorilla Glass 5 displays survived "up to 80 per cent of the time when dropped facedown from 1.6m".

The glassmaker added that Gorilla Glass 5 is four times as resilient as previous designs and has been designed to be more durable when dropped onto rough surfaces.

General Manager of Corning Gorilla Glass, John Bayne, said the technology will only continue to improve.

"With each successive generation of Corning Gorilla Glass, we have taken cover glass technology to new levels," he said in a statement.

"With many real world drops occurring from between waist and shoulder height, we knew improving drop performance would be an important and necessary advancement."

Corning notes Gorilla Glass 5 is expected to show up on commercial products "from leading global brands" later this year, which means the September release of Apple's iPhone 7 just got more exciting.