Would You Give Up Your iPhone for an Antimicrobial Smartphone?

Yesterday, Allure proposed an interesting proposition: a new Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass on smartphone screens that could potentially reduce cheek and jawline acne. Make sense, right?

The screen is the latest feature on Chinese mobile company ZTE’s newest phone: the Axon Lux. In addition to a 5.5 inch touch screen, dual front and back lens (a 13-megapixel and a 2-megapixel), 129GB built-in storage, and ooh, an eye scanner, the Axon Lux has an antimicrobial screen that protects the surface from stains and odor-causing bacteria. (Needless to say, slapping on a screen protector on the phone will completely defeat the purpose.)

But will it do what Allure editors hope it will? “If you are acne-prone, rubbing a dirty phone on your skin can lead to breakouts by pushing dirt and oil into your pores,” says Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research of the dermatology department of New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital. “This new glass could help reduce the amount of harmful microbes on the phone’s surface and help minimize the risk of infections, folliculitis, and the spreading of bacteria.”

However, he adds, “You’ll still need to clean off the dirt and oil on the phone before you place it on your cheek.

In other words? Maybe stick to your iPhone if you’re still in love with it—just wipe it down with rubbing alcohol at the end of the day.

 

Photo courtesy of Softpedia

Cai Subijano: