Abstract:
With Apple's first foldable screen phone iPhone Duo about to be launched, one of the most concerning topics has always revolved around the screen crease. Faced with user concerns about the durability and display of foldable screens, Apple executives recently explained in detail for the first time how the company will deal with long-standing technical problems in this industry.
Before the release of new products, there have been rumors in the market that Apple has successfully eliminated the folding screen creases. However, with the official release of iPhone Duo, this rumor has not become a reality. Apple does not claim that the crease has completely disappeared, but has taken another approach: reducing the visibility and presence of the crease as much as possible.
On the FAQ page about iPhone Duo on Apple’s official website, a user raised the question “Will there be creases in the folding area of the inner screen?” Apple's response did not directly deny the existence of the crease, but emphasized that the device adopts a "flat and smooth" internal screen design and uses special technology to provide a continuous and consistent viewing experience.
Apple said that the internal screen of iPhone Duo uses customized nano-texture display technology. This design reduces glare and reflections while making the crease less visually noticeable. A special transparent adhesive layer used inside the screen allows the display layers to slide against each other during the folding process, thereby reducing pressure accumulation and reducing the tendency for creases to form and expand.
According to Tom Malibu, Apple's vice president of hardware engineering, the choice of a nanotextured surface wasn't just about aesthetics. He said that traditional high-gloss displays are more likely to expose subtle undulations on the surface under light, and matte nano-texture processing can effectively reduce this visual amplification effect. Even after long-term use and extensive folding operations, crease changes will not be as noticeable as with traditional solutions.
Apple has also deeply optimized the hinge structure. Malibu revealed that the team spent a lot of time adjusting the hinge damping and torque curve, hoping that the device would maintain a stable and advanced feel in the open, closed and semi-folded states.
According to Apple's design goals, when users close the device, they should get a solid feeling similar to when a high-end car door is closed; while in the half-folded state, the device should not appear loose or wobbly. This experience requires a balance between different perspectives, so a lot of engineering resources were invested in the development process.
From the perspective of product structure, the iPhone Duo’s internal screen not only uses a nano-texture surface, but also uses a multi-layer reinforced structure, including high-strength glass, titanium metal support plate, custom adhesive layer and polymer covering layer. Apple says these components work together to allow the screen to more evenly distribute stress when folded.
A number of media who have experienced the real phone in advance have also confirmed that the iPhone Duo does still have creases, but they are less obvious than most folding screen products on the market. Creases are often imperceptible during normal use and are only visible under certain lighting angles.
Some experiencers believe that Apple has not really solved the folding screen crease problem, but has used material engineering, optical design and mechanical structure optimization to make the creases not affect the actual use experience as much as possible. For the first-generation folding screen iPhone, this has been regarded as a quite realistic and mature solution.
However, Apple has not yet announced the official folding life data of iPhone Duo. In contrast, some competitors have disclosed the results of hundreds of thousands of folding tests. Therefore, whether the creases will further appear after long-term use and the durability performance remain to be verified after the device is put on the market.
What is certain at present is that Apple has not promised to create a completely crease-free folding screen. Instead, the company has chosen to use display technology, material craftsmanship, and hinge design to allow the crease to recede into the background and no longer be the center of attention for users every day. For the folding screen industry, this may represent another more pragmatic development route.
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