Apple has entered the foldable-phone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone and one of the company’s most ambitious hardware designs yet. Starting at $1,999 for the 256GB model, it is also Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date — making durability an important consideration for buyers spending that much on a phone.
Apple appears to have anticipated those concerns. The company says the iPhone Duo was engineered with durability in mind, combining a titanium enclosure, strengthened internal components, protective ceramic materials and a redesigned hinge.
“iPhone Duo is built to last and feels exceptionally solid with every use,” Apple says on its website.
Titanium frame and a hinge built from more than 100 components
The iPhone Duo uses Grade 5 titanium for its enclosure, which Apple says provides high strength while allowing the phone to maintain a polished finish. The hinge cover is 3D-printed and uses a contrasting micro-blasted finish.
Apple has also reinforced the internal structure. Support ribs are designed to increase stiffness, while antenna splits with ceramic-fiber inserts help reinforce the frame. The hinge itself contains more than 100 components, which are engineered to control the opening and closing movement while supporting the center portion of the display.
