GoKawiilCNET's Fold-a-Phone test shows iPhone Duo hinge loosening after 440,000 folds
CNET has been running Apple's foldable iPhone Duo through its automated Fold-a-Phone testing rig for three weeks. After roughly 390,000 folds the opening motion began to change, and by around 440,300 folds the device stopped unfolding completely flat, settling at a 5-10 degree angle, though it can still be straightened by hand.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The gradual hinge wear suggests mechanical fatigue is setting in well before any functional failure, which could inform expectations about long-term durability for foldable devices generally. CNET notes the phone has not yet hit its defined failure conditions—power loss, sensor errors or screen blackout—so the practical impact on usability remains limited for now.
- Hinge looseness appeared after about 390,000 folds, worsening by 440,300 folds
- The screen no longer opens fully flat in the automated rig but can still be straightened manually
- CNET has not yet recorded a defined failure such as power loss or screen blackout
Source: cnet.com — Matthew Murray, 2026-11-13
Published there as: “After 3 Weeks and More Than 451,000 Folds, the iPhone Duo’s Hinge Is Finally Starting to Fail”
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