Apple’s recently appointed Vice President of Hardware Engineering, Tom Marieb, sat down with TechRadar to discuss the hardware innovations built into the iPhone Duo, which is slated to launch next month. The interview covered three focal points that have drawn consumer interest: overall durability, the folding hinge, and the presence—or absence—of a visible crease on the device’s display.
Durability and hinge engineering
Marieb emphasized that Apple invested extensive effort into making the Duo’s hinge both solid and versatile. He described the work on the hinge’s torque profile as “very heavily” engineered, noting that the goal was to create a feel comparable to a high‑end automobile door when it is closed. The intention, he said, was to give users a sense that the device is well‑crafted and safe to use without worry.
He also highlighted the challenge of supporting a “half‑folded state,” a common use case for the Duo. According to Marieb, the engineering team needed to ensure the device does not feel floppy in that position. Achieving the right torque at the fully closed, fully opened, and intermediate positions required “a lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” according to his comments.
Display crease mitigation and matte finish
When asked about the potential for a visible crease on the folding display, Marieb pointed to Apple’s use of nano‑texture technology as a key solution. He said the nano‑texture helps keep a crease from becoming prominent even after extended use. The choice of a matte finish, he explained, serves multiple purposes: it reduces glare, looks “beautiful,” and is more forgiving of subtle topology changes that can appear on glossy panels because of specular reflections.
Marieb invited accountability from users, stating that the matte surface was selected specifically because it makes any hinge‑related changes harder to notice, thereby preserving the visual quality of the screen over time.
Ceramic Shield 2 and screen protectors
In addition to the hinge and display, Marieb praised Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 technology, calling it “incredible” and suggesting it eliminates the need for third‑party screen protectors. He expressed a personal aversion to users applying protectors, saying, “when I see someone put a screen protector on their iPhone, it makes my skin crawl, because we work so hard to make beautiful front screens.”
The interview, conducted by Axel Metz, also noted that Marieb’s role mirrors the position formerly held by current Apple CEO John Ternus, underscoring the strategic importance Apple places on hardware leadership.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone Duo will not only introduce a new software experience but also showcase these hardware advancements. The full conversation with Marieb is available on TechRadar for readers seeking additional details.
Norman Pearlstine is the Executive Editor and Co-Founder at News Raise. With over two decades of experience across financial journalism, corporate governance, and market analysis, Norman leads the editorial direction and ensures strict adherence to journalistic accuracy and ethics.
