In a recent exclusive interview, Apple executives revealed the core reason behind the delayed launch of the iPhone Duo. They disclosed that Apple's years-long absence from the foldable phone market was not due to technical limitations, but rather an unwillingness to release incomplete products with compromised experiences.
Apple CEO Tennus stated that the key has always been when the product concept meets Apple's standards for quality, durability, and design. "For Apple, the crucial question is always when the product vision aligns with our benchmarks for quality, durability, and design. What makes the Duo particularly outstanding is how the hardware and software truly integrate to create a very special product."
Tennus indicated that the iPhone Duo also gave Apple an opportunity to rethink the form factor of foldable phones.
He emphasized, "For us, the Duo is almost a blank slate where we could start from scratch. There were so many things we could reconsider. Whether in hardware, software, or design, you can see this shift. All parts ultimately came together, making us feel that this is exactly the product we wanted."
Joswiak admitted that Apple had studied foldable phones already launched by other manufacturers but did not find them "particularly exciting."
Apple believes that many foldable phones on the market look like two devices "clumsily stuck together." Therefore, it opted for a wider 1:1.4 screen aspect ratio for the iPhone Duo and redesigned the software experience, aiming to differentiate the Duo from other foldable products.
Tennus was even more direct: "If you look at products on the market, you'll find that many screens feel like cheap plastic. The tactile experience is poor, with bumps and wrinkles on the surface."
The inner screen of the iPhone Duo uses polymer instead of glass for its top layer, and Apple has also redeveloped a nano-texture surface process specifically for the foldable display.
Tennus stated, "The nano-texture treatment eliminates all these issues. The screen is perfectly flat, feels great to the touch, and is extremely durable."