Foldable phones typically develop a more noticeable crease over years of regular use, prompting CNET to test the durability and bend limits of Apple’s $1,999 iPhone Duo. Using a specialized testing device, the publication has put the device through rigorous stress testing to observe how the screen holds up over time.
Durability Testing and Screen Appearance
As reported by CNET, their testing unit surpassed 139,000 folds after a week of nearly nonstop bending on their Fold-a-Phone machine. Footage from the CNET YouTube channel shows that the crease has remained largely unchanged since the testing process started. While the crease remains visible while the phone opens and closes, it becomes quite difficult to spot when the display is switched on. When the screen is turned off during a pause in testing, the crease becomes much more apparent, though that level of visibility matches an out-of-the-box device before it is powered on for the first time.
The Role of the Nano-Texture Display
Although the crease experiences ongoing wear, Apple incorporates a nano-texture matte display that helps conceal the indentation by minimizing reflections. This matte layer can be removed, and users who have peeled it away report that the iPhone Duo crease becomes significantly more prominent without it, mirroring the behavior of other book-style folding devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, as demonstrated in a video posted to X by Ice Universe.
Apple designed the outer layer to be intentionally removable and provides replacement services for the component. The replacement costs $19 for customers with AppleCare, while those without the program are charged $49.
The folding evaluation will proceed until the iPhone Duo breaks and can no longer fold. Daily progress can be monitored through weekday livestreams on the CNET YouTube channel.
