The hinge for Apple’s new foldable phone was built with AI
techcrunch ·
Apple's long-awaited foldable phone, the Duo, features a hinge that was designed and built with the help of AI and 3D printing, according to details shared at Apple's event. The Duo is Apple's first entry into the foldable phone market, a category that has seen consumer enthusiasm but often suffers from durability issues due to increased wear. Apple's chief hardware officer, Johny Srouji, explained that during manufacturing, AI algorithms pair each hinge with its best-fit housing to ensure perfect alignment. A confocal laser scans the topology of each unit, and up to 25 micro layers of a custom photopolymer are 3D printed to eliminate residual waviness. Apple also gave the phone a custom nano-texture finish to reduce glare and reflections, along with a multi-layer lamination strategy to increase durability. It remains to be seen whether these measures will keep the Duo in good condition over the long run.
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