Pen Online has published an exclusive interview in Japan with Apple's new CEO, John Ternus, and design executives Marie Anderson and Steve Lemay. Conducted at Apple Park Observatory, the interview focuses on the design story behind iPhone Duo.
Pen Online's Japan-exclusive interview details the conversation held on the 10th day after Ternus became CEO and introduces the specific design thinking behind the foldable smartphone iPhone Duo, including its hinge design.
According to the article, iPhone Duo's form was inspired by notebooks, while the display's aspect ratio takes its cue from the 1:√2 proportions of A-series paper. The hinge consists of more than 100 components and is manufactured by using AI to assess variations in each individual unit and pair it with the optimal body.
The article also introduces a mechanism for using the device as an alarm clock when folded in a mountain-fold configuration: the downward-facing inner screen lights up and indicates the time through indirect light. It notes that this may be the world's first report on the feature. In addition to iPhone Duo, the article touches on color matching between the glass and aluminum of iPhone 18 Pro and the manufacturing process for the ceramic model of Apple Watch Series 12, the first such model in 7 years.