Apple has officially entered the foldable phone market with its iPhone Duo, which starts at around $1999 and features a large internal screen that aims to offer a different experience from competing foldable phones.

While Apple focused on the design, screen, and technologies used to minimize the appearance of the crease during the phone's unveiling, there is an important question that the company has not yet provided a clear answer to: how long will the screen last after thousands of folds and unfolds?

Apple tries to make the screen crease less noticeable

The iPhone Duo comes with a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR internal screen, along with a 5.4-inch external screen, supporting ProMotion technology and Always-On feature, as well as up to 3000 nits of brightness under sunlight.

Apple uses a final layer with a nanotextured surface on the internal screen to help reduce reflections and make the crease area less noticeable. The screen is also designed with multiple layers of support, including high-strength glass, a titanium frame, and adhesive materials that allow the layers to move slightly during the folding process.

Apple says that the polymer layer above the screen is up to 40% harder than common materials used in foldable phones.

First impressions suggest that these technologies are already doing a good job, as the crease is less noticeable, although it has not completely disappeared and can be seen under certain lighting conditions. The internal screen will also support Apple Pencil with USB-C port later in the year, giving the phone additional uses when opened and turned into a large screen.

The harder question: What happens after thousands of folds?
 

Although Apple has talked about the durability of iPhone Duo, it has not clearly disclosed how many times the screen can be folded before signs of use appear.

The company relies on a fifth-grade titanium frame, Ceramic Shield protection, and IP68 water and dust resistance, along with internal reinforcements and hinges made up of more than 100 parts.

But these specifications do not answer the most important question for a foldable phone: how many times can the phone be opened and closed before the screen changes or the crease becomes more noticeable?

The phone may look perfect when it is first taken out of the box, but daily use over several months or years is the real test. It is not yet clear how the folding area will be affected after opening and closing the device dozens of times a day, or how the polymer layer will withstand continuous touching, fingerprints, and friction.

Therefore, Apple seems to have achieved an initial very strong impression in terms of reducing the appearance of the crease. But the real judgment on iPhone Duo will not be on the first day, but after thousands of folds and long-term daily use.

For a phone that starts at $1,999, the durability of the screen over the long term will remain one of the most important points users need to test before considering Apple’s foldable experience fully successful.