Apple hardware engineering VP Tom Marieb said “Hold us accountable to that, please,” when asked about crease visibility on the upcoming iPhone Duo, and he stressed the handset’s matte nano-texture display is intended to cut glare and minimize the appearance of a crease.
iPhone Duo crease and nano-texture display
Marieb pointed to the matte nano-texture finish as a deliberate choice to reduce specular reflections and hide topology differences that make creases more visible on glossy foldable screens. “The choice of a matte finish — apart from it being beautiful — is part of that equation,” he said. “When you look at glossy displays, their specularity makes it very easy to pick up topology differences. That’s part of the reason we picked the matte finish — it’s not only beautiful in terms of preventing glare, but it’s also more forgiving of [hinge] changes over time.” He asked people to hold the company “accountable” on crease visibility.
Hinge design and torque profile
Marieb called the iPhone Duo’s hinge something he was “especially proud of,” saying the team spent a long time refining the design to deliver a durable, solid feel. “We really worked on the torque profile very heavily, and that means changing a lot of the mechanical properties of the hinge to have it feel solid, like a high-end automobile’s car door, when you shut it,” he said. Apple sought a hinge that would not be “floppy,” and the final design allows the iPhone Duo to be used in partially folded seated and standing modes, as well as fully open and closed. According to Marieb, “a lot of blood, sweat, and tears” went into getting the hinge right.
Marieb also discussed Ceramic Shield 2 and expressed a dislike of screen protectors in a full interview.
The iPhone Duo will be available for pre-order on October 16 and will launch on October 23. Pricing starts at $1,999.
