The Duo foldable iPhone, Apple’s first foldable phone, comes with a set of new design and manufacturing technologies. One of the most important parts of this phone is its hinge, which Apple used artificial intelligence algorithms and 3D printing to design and produce.
Apple’s entry into the foldable phone market comes as this category of products has seen considerable consumer interest in recent years, but their durability and design remain one of the major challenges for these products.
Because of their different structure, foldable phones are more prone to wear compared with ordinary phones, and many existing models experience wear-related issues over time.
Apple claims that to prevent damage from everyday use, it used a set of protections and new technologies in the design of the Duo. According to John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware, the hinge is also one of the components designed with this approach.
AI for precise matching of each hinge
At Apple’s “Wonder and Glow” event, Ternus said the company uses AI algorithms in the manufacturing process to precisely match each hinge with its best housing. He said this process is performed to achieve precise alignment of the hinges.
After that, a confocal laser gradually scans the topology of each unit. Then up to 25 microlayers of a custom photopolymer are 3D printed to eliminate residual waves in the hinge structure.
This process shows that Apple used a combination of AI, laser scanning, and 3D printing to precisely control the Duo’s hinge structure.
Nanotexture coating and multilayer structure to increase durability
Ternus also said Apple used a custom nanotexture coating for its new foldable phone that can significantly reduce glare and light reflection.
In addition, Apple designed a multilayer layering structure to increase the Duo’s durability. The company hopes this set of technologies can protect the phone against wear and common damage associated with using foldable phones.
However, it is still unclear to what extent these protective technologies can guarantee the Duo’s physical durability in long-term use.