Custom-built machine folds iPhone Duo 32,000 times, hinge stays firm
A reviewer and a hardware designer built an automated device that folded the iPhone Duo over 32,000 times, finding the hinge slightly stiffer rather than looser.
Tech journalist Joanna Stern partnered with hardware designer Aron Cohen to create a small automated rig, dubbed “Hingey,” that repeatedly opened and closed the iPhone Duo. The device, built from a servo motor, 3D-printed parts and a controller, was programmed to adjust angle, speed and dwell time for each fold.
Over the course of four nights, Hingey performed 32,640 folds, simulating extended real-world use. After the test, Cohen re-measured the force required to open the phone with a calibrated push-pull gauge.
"The result: The hinge was actually a little bit stiffer," Stern reported in her video review.
Stern added that the difference was not noticeable during everyday handling.
"In everyday use, I really couldn’t feel a difference. So after 32,000 folds, it felt pretty much the same as day one, which is pretty darn impressive."
The review also noted the iPhone Duo’s strengths, such as multiple display modes, solid battery life and multitasking capabilities, alongside drawbacks like the FaceTime camera quality, absence of a telephoto lens, and occasional heat during use. Stern concluded that Apple’s first folding phone is impressive for a debut model and expressed anticipation for future iterations.