Apple hardware engineering vice president Tom Marieb says the company should be judged on how well the iPhone Duo’s display crease holds up over time. In an interview with TechRadar, Marieb said the phone’s matte nano-texture screen is intended to reduce glare and make changes around the hinge less noticeable as the device ages.

Creases becoming more visible with use have been a concern on some foldable phones. Marieb acknowledged that expectation and asked customers to hold Apple accountable for the results. He said the matte surface was selected not only for its appearance and glare reduction, but also because it is more forgiving of changes in the display’s surface over time.

Why Apple chose a matte display

According to Marieb, glossy screens can make small differences in surface shape easier to see because they reflect light directly. A matte finish reduces that effect, which should help minimize the visual prominence of the area above the hinge.

That design choice does not eliminate the physical crease, and Apple has not provided a separate durability claim about how the display will look after extended use. Marieb’s comments instead describe the nano-texture finish as part of Apple’s approach to managing the crease’s visibility.

iPhone Duo hinge focuses on resistance and feel

Marieb also highlighted the hinge as one of the parts of the iPhone Duo’s design that required the most development work. Apple wanted a mechanism that felt solid when opening and closing, rather than loose or floppy.

The company spent considerable effort refining the hinge’s torque profile, which controls the resistance through its range of motion. Marieb compared the intended feel to the solid movement of a high-end automobile door, saying Apple wanted users to feel that the phone was carefully made and dependable in everyday use.

The hinge is designed to support the iPhone Duo in several positions, including fully open, closed, and partially folded configurations. Those positions include seated and standing modes, according to Marieb, who said extensive engineering effort went into achieving the final design.

iPhone Duo release date and price

Apple plans to open iPhone Duo preorders on October 16, with the phone launching on October 23. Pricing will start at $1,999.

Marieb also discussed Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 and his personal dislike of screen protectors during the TechRadar interview. The comments on the hinge and display offer an early look at the engineering priorities Apple is applying to its first iPhone Duo design.