Apple Exec Says ‘Hold Us Accountable’ if iPhone Duo Crease Gets Worse

Apple seems pretty confident the iPhone Duo’s display crease won’t become much more noticeable with age. In fact, the company is even encouraging consumers to hold it accountable.

Speaking with TechRadar, Apple’s new Vice President of Hardware Engineering, Tom Marieb, discussed some of the work that went into making the company’s first foldable iPhone durable enough for everyday use. One concern with foldables is that the crease running through the flexible display can become more pronounced over time. Marieb believes the iPhone Duo’s unusual nano-texture inner display should help minimize that problem.

“Hold us accountable to that, please,” Marieb said when asked about the crease.

The matte finish doesn’t eliminate the physical fold, but Marieb explained that reducing reflections makes small changes in the display’s surface less noticeable than on glossy screens.

Apple also spent considerable time engineering the Duo’s hinge. Marieb said he’s “especially proud” of the mechanism, with Apple carefully tuning its torque to make opening and closing the phone feel solid rather than floppy. He compared the intended sensation to closing a high-end car door. That variable-torque design also lets the iPhone Duo stay partially folded for different seated and standing modes.

Durability was a major focus throughout the Duo’s development. Apple says the hinge supports the centre of the 7.6-inch display when fully opened, while internal support ribs reinforce the structure. Ceramic Shield 2 protects the outer display, and the phone carries an IP68 water and dust resistance rating.

Marieb is similarly confident in Ceramic Shield 2, joking that seeing someone put a screen protector on an iPhone makes his “skin crawl.” Apple subjected its devices to accelerated testing intended to simulate roughly five years of everyday use.

Canadians will have to wait a little longer to put those claims to the test. The iPhone Duo starts at $2,999 CAD, with pre-orders opening October 16 ahead of its October 23 launch. For a $3,000 first-generation foldable, buyers will probably be more than happy to take Marieb up on that accountability offer.