The iPhone Duo has yet to launch, but Apple has already moved to reassure prospective buyers about one of the most persistent concerns surrounding foldable smartphones: the worsening of the display crease over time. In a break from its usual reticence, the company has directly addressed the issue and stated that customers have little reason to worry.
According to Apple, the display’s scratch resistance, the durability of the folding hinge and the visibility of the crease were all considered during the design and testing phases of the iPhone Duo. The company has described a considerable engineering effort aimed at reducing these problems as far as possible.
Apple’s Response to Crease Concerns
Tom Marieb, Apple’s new Vice President of Hardware Engineering, has taken over the role previously held by John Ternus, who is now chief executive. In an interview conducted in September 2026, Marieb addressed the crease question directly, expressing confidence that the iPhone Duo tackles the issue in a way no other foldable phone has managed.
“Hold us accountable to that, please,” Marieb said, adding that the choice of a matte finish forms part of the solution alongside its aesthetic appeal. He did not claim that the crease would fail to deepen over time, but rather that the coating would keep it hidden regardless.
The Nano-Texture Coating
Central to Apple’s approach is a new nano-texture coating applied to the internal display, which the company regards as the feature that sets the device apart from its rivals. In an earlier interview, Ternus and Senior Vice President of Marketing Greg Joswiak described the nano-texture display as Apple’s key differentiator for the iPhone Duo.
Both executives were pleased that this detail did not emerge before launch, unlike the aspect ratio, which was reported in advance. While rival foldables with glossier displays tend to make the degradation of the crease increasingly apparent, the nano-texture coating is intended to conceal it while also reducing glare.
The challenge remains significant. Even the foldable phones with the least noticeable creases at present, such as the Oppo Find N6, tend to develop more visible creases as they age. From the very first fold, a foldable’s display crease begins to become more apparent, and the surface starts to become uneven in that area.
Reaction online has been sceptical. Many users are not taking Marieb’s confidence in the hinge and the scratch resistance of the iPhone Duo at face value, with some pointing to Apple’s track record on hardware issues. Marieb also remarked that he feels uncomfortable when he sees someone applying a screen protector to their iPhone.
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Image: phonearena.com
