Man folds iPhone Duo 10,000 times in 'gruelling' test that exposes true durability of screen crease

The big day is finally here, and with the iPhone Duo releasing on October 23, Apple's first folding phone hopes to take the tech giant galloping into a new era. Patents for a 'folding' iPhone have been circulating since 2011, while the idea was said to be a passion project of former CEO Tim Cook.

Still, with Samsung releasing the Galaxy Fold in 2019, Apple's biggest rival has a serious jump on the competition. The delay on a folding iPhone has largely been attributed to issues with the crease itself, with Apple wanting to beat the competition in terms of an invisible fold.

While we might not be there yet with the iPhone Duo, the phone's supporters have argued that the crease is noticeably less visible than on something like the Z Fold8 Ultra. But how will the iPhone Duo hold up after years of folding and unfolding? One YouTuber has done the testing so you don't have to.

How does the iPhone Duo hold up after being folded 10,000 times?

Over on YouTube, MediaStorm's Tim Pan has been putting the iPhone Duo through its paces in terms of its crease.

Apple has made a lot of noise about its Liquid Metal hinge technology, supposedly being engineered to be over twice as strong as standard titanium alloy and using a teardrop design that lets the inner OLED panel to curve inside the spine instead of bending at a sharp angle.

We previously reported how up to 40% of iPhone Duo models coming off the production line weren't up to scratch, showing just how specific Apple is about perfecting the Duo.

Showing off the Duo after just 500 folds, Pan noted that the crease got 'deeper', although we'll admit it's not exactly anything to write home about.

500 is obviously just minor wear and tear considering how much we use our phones every day.

Taking things further, Pan brought out his folding machine for a 'gruelling' test of 10,000 continuous folds at room temperature and a further 1,000 folds at −4°F.

The matte finish on the Duo's internal display reduces glare and how visible a crease appears, and even though that doesn't diminish after 10,000 folds, it doesn't stop the crease from becoming pronounced.

Pan said that while there were some visual differences, the hinge still felt just as smooth and fundamentally operated in the same way as the first fold.

Giving his final thoughts, Pan concluded: "Our view hasn't changed. Structurally, the Duo is very strong. You don't have to worry about it bending or snapping if you sat on it. Apple did a great job with this hinge."

But what is everyone else saying?

What are reviewers saying about the iPhone Duo?

Big names from the tech world are already passing judgment and revealing whether the iPhone Duo is worth that lofty $2,000 price tag. Marques "MKBHD" Brownlee and Arun "Mrwhosetheboss" Maini have given their first thoughts, with both praising the engineering, the hinge, and battery efficiency.

Still, there appear to be complaints about optimization when it comes to the apps, a somewhat disappointing camera system, and weight. MKBHD said the Duo is 'polished around the edges, but kind of rough in the middle," concluding that most should skip the device as a 'first generation' product.

He also called out a lack of Face ID as well as the Galaxy Z Fold8 feeling nicer in your hands.

As for Mrwhosetheboss, he similarly said the Duo is all about trading off on certain features and how most are best sticking with the flagship iPhone 18 lineup. For Maini, the Duo is slightly too big, claiming that it doesn't work as a day-to-day phone because it needs two hands.

The fact that the Duo is pretty much sold out everywhere suggests many of you are willing to stump up for the first-ever folding iPhone, but as more reviews start to trickle in, it will be interesting to see what the general public thinks.

Many retailers are sold out of the iPhone Duo but you can pre-order the device with $40 off at Verizon.