A tech YouTuber has put Apple’s new foldable phone through a grueling 10,000-fold endurance test to see how the screen holds up.
Tim Pan, who runs the MediaStorm channel, ran the iPhone Duo through the punishing routine just days before the device hits global shelves on October 23. The phone, priced at roughly $2,000, is Apple’s first-ever foldable and has already sold out at many retailers ahead of launch.
Pan started small, folding a fresh unit 500 times and comparing it side-by-side with an untouched device. The crease between the two screens grew visibly deeper with use, he found. “But, when we’re touching it and putting it in bright mode, it doesn’t really show up,” the creator noted in his comparison video.
Then he escalated dramatically. Pan deployed a machine to fold the iPhone Duo 10,000 consecutive times at room temperature, followed by another 1,000 folds after freezing the device down to -4°F. The Duo survived both trials with its hinge still functioning smoothly.
“After 10,000 continuous folds at room temperature, plus 1,000 more at -4°F, we can finally confirm to you that the hinge is still very smooth,” Pan said in the video. “It still assists when opening just like it did on day one.”
The crease did deepen further over the full 11,000 folds, Pan acknowledged. He also flagged a vulnerability: tiny particles like hair and sand can slip into the hinge mechanism at certain angles. Still, he ultimately branded the iPhone Duo’s overall structure “very strong.”
Early professional reviews have landed mostly positive ahead of tomorrow’s retail launch. PetaPixel scored the device 7.5/10, praising its craftsmanship while questioning its purpose. “The iPhone Duo is an exceptionally crafted device, especially for a first generation product,” the outlet wrote. “I just don’t think it solves any problems the iPad doesn’t already address and revives old ones the iPhone long since overcame.”
Engadget called it a “first-class foldable,” highlighting slick design, solid battery life, and strong camera quality. 9to5Mac reviewer Chance Miller went further after a week of use. “After a week with the iPhone Duo, I’m convinced that this form factor represents the future of the iPhone,” Miller wrote. “There’s something special about a compact, notebook-like iPhone that unfolds into a tablet-like experience, and it just makes sense once you start using it. Importantly, neither screen feels compromised,” He added: “I’ve been repeatedly surprised by how capable the outer display is compared to what I expected.”
The iPhone Duo arrives as foldable phones have matured across the Android market, with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line now in its sixth generation. Apple’s entry at the $1,999 price point puts it at the premium end of the category, and pre-order demand has already outstripped supply at multiple retailers. Verizon is currently offering $40 off the device for buyers still looking to secure one.
Apple’s first foldable represents a major industrial design shift for a company that has kept its flagship iPhones as rigid glass rectangles since 2007. The Duo unfolds from a compact phone into a 7.6-inch tablet-like experience, with two distinct screens separated by the central hinge that Pan put to the test.
The iPhone Duo officially goes on sale tomorrow.