Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo features a 3D-printed hinge cover, manufactured from 100% recycled titanium.
The company's first foldable smartphone product was launched earlier this week, with Apple describing it as its 'thinnest iPhone ever'.
It features a 7.6-inch inner display, providing a 'large canvas' for viewing content, gaming, and multitasking, while a special nano-texture finish minimises glare for what Apple believes is an 'unparalleled viewing experience.' Closed, the 5.4-inch outer display delivers 90 per cent of the screen area of iPhone 18 Pro in a compact, pocketable design. Both displays share the same aspect ratio, meaning content scales proportionally to ensure visual continuity.
Per Apple, the iPhone Duo is 'built to last' thanks in large part to a precision hinge that offers a 'smooth, satisfying feel with every use.'
The hinge cover has been additively manufactured from grade 5 titanium, selected for its 'incredible strength', and finished with a contrasting micro-blasted texture. Apple also says the hinge has been engineered from more than 100 components to precisely control opening and closing, while supporting the centre of the display. Internally, support ribs are said to reinforce the structure for added stiffness, and antenna splits with ceramic fibre inserts enhance the frame’s rigidity.
Like all of Apple's end-use applications of 3D printing so far, the use of the technology aligns with its company-wide plan to be carbon neutral by 2030. The phone has been made with 35 per cent recycled content overall, with the cobalt used in the battery and titanium used in the 3D-printed hinge cover both complete recycled, and has been manufactured with 60 per cent renewable energy across the supply chain. Its paper packaging is also 100 per cent fibre-based and be recycled by consumers at home.
The use of 3D printing for the hinge cover of the iPhone Duo represents an evolution in Apple's application of the technology, having previously used it for the USB-C port of the iPhone Air, and the Apple Watch 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 cases. Apple has not confirmed the printing process behind the manufacture of the iPhone Duo's hinge cover, but the use of 100 per cent recycled titanium - consistent with previous AM applications - indicates the tech giant has once again deployed laser powder bed fusion.
Apple's application of additive manufacturing for the hinge cover of its foldable smartphone follows the likes of Oppo and Honor in deploying the technology for similar components in their Find N5 and Magic V2 products, respectively.
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