The displays for low-end mobile phones are almost always made of scratch-resistant acrylic. In High-end phones, like the iPhone, the display is made of hardened glass. The glass makes the phones expensive, heavy and fragile. If dropped on the floor there is big risk that the glass cracks.
Acrylic compared with glass:
*Weight
Acrylic weighs less than half that of glass.
*Impact resistance
Acrylic is many times stronger than glass and thus more resistant to strokes (10-20 times). When acrylic shatter, it is, in contrast to glass, in large pieces with relative blunt edges. At the same time contribute the low weight to make acrylic much safer.
*Insulation
Acrylic insulates better than glass, and is used heavily in skylights and doors to coolers.
*Manufacturing
Molding and extrusion of glass items are more expensive and requires much more energy.
*Machining
Glass can not be easily processed by sawing, milling and bending. Moreover, it is a lot more difficult be form after heating.
*Scratch resistance
Glass is harder to scratch. Acrylic sheets can be supplied with a scratch-resistant coating (hardcoating) which provides extra protection. While scratch-resistant acrylic are not nearly as scratch-resistant as glass. Small scratches in acrylic can be polished. Scratched glass most be replaced.
*Light transmittance
Glass has 90% light transmission, for acrylic it is 92%.
*Gloss
Acrylic provides a softer reflection of light. Station glass and acrylic opposite each other and one is seldom in doubt about what is what. Acrylic with glass look is acrylic added a bit of color so that it even more looks like glass.
*UV light
Standard acrylic allow as opposed to glass UV light to pass. Acrylic sheets can also be delivered with a UV filter.