Apple's John Ternus discusses iPhone Duo development and AI plans in TIME interview

Apple senior engineering leader John Ternus spoke with TIME about the iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable phone that is slated to reach consumers after nearly ten years of development. Ternus said the project began in 2011 when he and a small team filed a patent for a foldable device, anticipating flexible OLED displays. He criticized early foldable attempts by other manufacturers as “cheap and crappy.”

Apple’s vice-president of product design Richard Dinh recalled that Ternus urged the team to continue refining the device despite competitors launching earlier. Dinh noted Ternus’s guidance led to the creation of a custom polymer surface with a hinge containing more than 100 precision components, which early users say makes the crease barely noticeable.

Ternus also highlighted his hands-on involvement in design, spending several days each week in the industrial-design and human-interface studios. Regarding Apple’s AI initiatives, he explained that Apple Intelligence leverages Gemini technology to focus on features that provide clear differentiation, and he described Siri AI as uniquely able to draw on the extensive personal data stored on users’ iPhones.

He admitted to working long hours before the September product event, saying the preparation was fueled by “adrenaline, caffeine and excitement.”