When choosing a new smartphone, users often pay attention to the processor and camera, forgetting about the most vulnerable element – the screen. It is the display that takes the brunt of falls and contact with hard objects in your pocket. Xiaomi has been working with Corning for many years, introducing advanced glass protection technologies in their devices, from the budget Redmi to the flagship series Mi and Xiaomi.
It is important to understand that the presence of the Gorilla Glass logo does not guarantee absolute invulnerability. There are different generations of protection, each of which has its own physical properties and strength limits. In this article, we will discuss in detail which Xiaomi models have quality glass, what the GG5 version differs from the GG Victus version and whether it is still worth gluing the film.
Many buyers mistakenly believe that if glass is hardened, it won't break. It's not. Gorilla Glass is primarily protective against scratches and microcracks, and also increases impact resistance when falling from a certain height. But a pinpoint impact or a flat drop on asphalt from two meters can be fatal for even the most expensive glass.
The evolution of screen protection in Xiaomi smartphones
The Chinese giant's history of using protective glass in its devices goes back more than a decade, and the company initially used standard solutions, but with the release of its flagship lines, a major shift began to be made to Corning products, with the Mi series being the first to receive top-of-the-line protection at the time.
Technology has improved over time, and if the models relied on Gorilla Glass 3 with Native Drop Protection, the current flagships already flaunt Gorilla Glass Victus, the difference between them is huge: the new glass can withstand falls from up to 2 meters on rough surfaces, while the older versions often cracked when hitting gravel from 1.5 meters.
The specification on the box doesn't always give you the exact version of the glass, it's often the generic phrase "tempered glass" or "2.5D glass" that you have to look at technical datasheets or lab tests to find out the truth.
Why Xiaomi doesn’t always list Gorilla Glass?
The brand’s current smartphones are now packed with a wide range of protective coatings, from Gorilla Glass 5 in the mid-range to Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in the ultra-flagships, and understanding these differences helps to estimate the real cost of ownership and potential repair costs.
Flagship series and protection Victus
The company’s top devices always come with the best available protection. Since the Xiaomi 12 and Xiaomi 13 series, the manufacturer has been actively implementing Gorilla Glass Victus, which has significantly reduced the number of calls to service centers about broken screens.
Xiaomi’s flagship 14 and Ultra series have been given even more protection. Corning engineers have developed a lineup that better resists not only falls, but also scratches from keys and coins. For owners of such devices, this means the ability to wipe the screen less from micro-scraps.
Importantly, even in flagships, the side edges (curved edges) are often less protected. Gorilla Glass Victus technology mainly improves front surface performance.
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When buying a flagship, pay attention to the presence of a factory film, which is often part of the protection system and improves grip on the case.
It's also worth mentioning the Mi Mix series, which has always been marketed as experimental and premium, and these devices tended to get enhanced protection given their design and lack of bezels, but the complex geometry of the screen made them more vulnerable to side impacts despite the use of top glass.
Mid-segment: Redmi Note and GG5 protection
The most popular category of smartphones is the Redmi Note series, and this is where the most common question is what kind of glass is installed. Starting with the Redmi Note 8 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro, the company started putting Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, which was a great marketing move.
Fifth generation glass is considered the "middle ground"; it is much stronger than the third, which was in older models, and provides decent protection when falling from a height of human height. For most users, this level of strength is quite enough when handled carefully.
However, in more affordable models, such as the base Redmi (without the Note console) or the POCO M series, manufacturers can save money. There are often simply “hardened glass” without the Corning branding or older versions of the GG3. This does not mean that they are bad, but the risk of getting chipped is higher.
In the Redmi Note 10 and Note 11 segment, things became more transparent, with the brand starting to openly indicate the presence of Gorilla Glass 3 or Gorilla Glass 5 depending on the modification, for example, the Pro version often received better glass than the regular version, which created artificial layering within the same line.
Budget models and POCO series
The performance-focused POCO line often sacrifices body and screen materials for a powerful processor. Entry-level models like the POCO C or M series rarely feature Corning branded glass, typically using high-quality anodized silicate, but without the special chemical hardening of Gorilla Glass technology.
However, the POCO F-level models (former flagship killers) are better off, with the POCO F3 device, for example, getting a Gorilla Glass 5, which came as a pleasant surprise to many buyers, allowing the smartphone to withstand the harsh tests of bloggers and stay intact where others cracked.
In the budget segment, it is typical to use glass only on the front panel, and the back cover, even if it is glass, is almost always made of normal material without reinforcement, making the back of the smartphone extremely vulnerable to scratches and chips.
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi's budget models often use glass without oleophobic coating or with a very weak layer, resulting in rapid greasy footprints and difficulty slipping a finger.
If you choose a Redmi A or Redmi Go smartphone, you don't have to rely on Gorilla Glass. In this price category, autonomy and basic functionality are the priority, and screen protection is taken by the wayside, where only a dense case-book can save you.
Comparative table of screen protection
To organize the information and give a clear answer to the question "Xiaomi gorilla glass in which models", we have prepared a summary table that covers the main lines and shows typical equipment for different price segments.
| Series of devices | Typical protection | Examples of models | Resistance to falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi (Flagships) | Gorilla Glass Victus / Victus 2 | Xiaomi 13, 14, 13 Ultra | Tall (up to 2 m) |
| Redmi Note (Pro) | Gorilla Glass 5 | Redmi Note 12 Pro, 13 Pro | Medium (up to 1.6 m) |
| POCO F series | Gorilla Glass 5 | POCO F4, F5, F6 | Medium (up to 1.6 m) |
| Redmi (Budget) | Tempered glass / GG3 | Redmi 12C, Redmi 13C | Low (up to 1 m) |
| Xiaomi Mix | Gorilla Glass Victus | Mix 4, Mix Fold | Tall (with nuances) |
This chart shows a clear correlation between the price of a smartphone and the quality of the glass installed, but there are exceptions when the manufacturer makes nice surprises in the form of improved protection in the mid-segment to increase competitiveness.
It’s worth remembering that the data in the table is relevant for global versions of devices. In the Chinese version (CN), the equipment may differ slightly, although in the case of glass Xiaomi usually adheres to a single standard for all markets.
How to check for Gorilla Glass in your Xiaomi
If you already own a device and want to know what protects its screen, you don't have to disassemble the phone. There are several software and visual ways to identify it. The most reliable is to examine the technical documentation.
Zayd.