Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone Duo, unveiled during the company’s “Surprise and Shine” event on Wednesday, comes with several notable features, including a key hinge designed and manufactured with the help of artificial intelligence and 3D printing.
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The new phone marks Apple’s first entry into the foldable smartphone market, a category that has attracted significant consumer interest but whose designs have not always met expectations.
Because of their folding mechanism, foldable smartphones are exposed to wear at a higher rate than conventional devices. Many models have shown noticeable deterioration over time and have not always matched the durability of standard smartphones.
Apple says it has incorporated innovative protective measures into the iPhone Duo to help prevent the wear and damage commonly associated with foldable devices. The hinge is a central part of this approach, according to Johny Srouji, Apple’s chief hardware officer.
During Wednesday’s event, Srouji said Apple uses AI algorithms during manufacturing to precisely match each hinge with the most suitable frame, ensuring accurate alignment. A confocal laser then gradually scans the surface of each individual unit, after which up to 25 microscopic layers of a specially developed photopolymer material are applied using 3D printing to eliminate any remaining irregularities.
Srouji also revealed that Apple has equipped the foldable phone with a custom nano-textured finish designed to significantly reduce glare and reflections. The device also uses a multilayer lamination strategy aimed at improving its durability.
The iPhone Duo opens to a 7.6-inch display and features a smaller 5.4-inch outer screen. Apple says the device is its thinnest iPhone when unfolded and is designed to provide a more seamless foldable experience. The phone starts at $1,999 and will be available for purchase on October 23, with preorders beginning October 16.
Despite Apple’s efforts to address durability concerns, questions remain over whether its new protective technologies will be sufficient to keep the iPhone Duo in optimal condition over the long term.
The company is betting that its approach to the hinge, display and overall construction will help distinguish the Duo from existing foldable smartphones and attract consumers who have so far been hesitant to adopt the category.
