Apple’s new iPhone Duo is holding up well under extreme stress testing. CNET has built a custom machine dubbed the “Fold-a-Phone” to repeatedly fold and unfold the Duo nonstop—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After more than a week of continuous operation, the device has passed 260,000 full folding cycles, with its hinge and display crease still in strong condition.
How the test works
The Fold-a-Phone setup was designed to simulate worst-case wear and tear on the iPhone Duo’s unique folding mechanism. The rig performs back-and-forth folds around the hinge, pushing the limits of both durability and design. There’s a public livestream available every weekday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, offering viewers real-time visibility into the folding process. As of the time the latest streamed session wrapped, the Duo had endured just over 260,000 fold cycles without showing serious signs of hinge failure or display separation.
What we know so far — and what’s next
So far, the test results appear promising. The hinge and the central crease—the two parts under the most stress—remain intact and functional. However, there’s still a long road ahead: CNET plans to continue the continuous folding test until at least November 20. That will allow more insight into whether minor issues appear over longer term usage.
For context, typical consumer usage does not come close to these numbers. Even a highly active foldable user likely won’t manually fold a phone this many times in its lifespan. Still, testing at this scale can uncover potential weak points in hinge assembly, screen material, or joint sealings that standard review units don’t reveal.
For readers curious to see the machine in action, the livestream is available online, and the updates are shared daily during streaming hours. These fold-count milestones are tracked publicly, offering transparency on how the device’s structure performs under sustained mechanical stress.
What this means: Apple showing off a folding phone isn’t new, but the iPhone Duo’s ability to survive over a quarter million folds is a strong early indicator of durability. If it maintains its integrity past the mid-test stage, it could shift expectations for foldable devices. Key takeaway: hinge design and display engineering are improving—and this test might mark a turning point. Viewers should watch whether the fold carries more fatigue after 300,000, 400,000 folds, or more long-duration tests beyond November 20.
