Apple’s highly anticipated foldable device, named the Duo, brings several unexpected innovations to the table—most notably a crucial hinge engineered and constructed using artificial intelligence alongside 3D printing technology.
This release marks Apple’s debut in the foldable smartphone market—a segment that has generated immense excitement among consumers, even if the actual hardware designs have sometimes fallen short of expectations. Given that these devices naturally endure double the everyday wear and tear of a standard phone, many current foldables experience rapid deterioration and lack the long-term robustness seen in conventional smartphones.
To address these issues, Apple asserts that it incorporated cutting-edge protective measures into the Duo to shield it from the usual damage that plagues folding handsets. According to Johny Srouji, Apple’s chief hardware officer, this advanced protection extends directly to the hinge mechanism.
Speaking at Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event on Wednesday, Srouji explained: “In production, advanced AI models pair each unique hinge with its ideal enclosure for flawless alignment. Simultaneously, a confocal laser maps the surface contours of every device, 3D printing as many as 25 micro-layers of a specialized photopolymer to smooth out any surface imperfections.”
Additionally, Srouji highlighted that the new foldable features “a custom nano-texture finish that significantly reduces glare and reflections,” paired with a multi-layered lamination structure engineered to boost structural integrity. Nevertheless, time will tell if these engineering enhancements are sufficient to maintain the Duo’s pristine condition over extended use.
