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Apple has not shared any hinge durability tests for the iPhone Duo, and it has not given a lifetime fold number the way Samsung does for its foldables. That left a gap, and Joanna Stern decided to fill it by putting a device through a custom folding machine to see how the hinge would hold up.

The results of that experiment, which reportedly ran to about 32,000 folds, are now drawing attention from anyone considering a folding Apple device. Here is a look at what the test set out to answer and why it matters.

Why Apple's Silence on Hinge Durability Matters

Samsung has long published fold ratings for its foldable phones, giving buyers a rough sense of how long the hinge should last. Apple has offered nothing comparable for the iPhone Duo.

Without an official number, shoppers have to guess how a hinge will cope with daily use. That uncertainty is a real obstacle for a product that costs far more than a standard phone.

Independent testing is one of the few ways to get answers. Stern's experiment is an attempt to replace speculation with observation.

How the Custom Folding Machine Was Built

According to the description, Stern used a custom device to repeatedly fold the phone. Machines like this open and close a device at a steady pace, removing human inconsistency from the test.

The goal is to simulate months or years of normal use in a short period. A figure like 32,000 folds is meant to approximate heavy, long-term handling.

The details of the machine's speed, angle and force would affect how closely the test mirrors real life. Readers should look to the original report for those specifics.

What 32,000 Folds Could Mean in Daily Use

To put the number in context, someone who opens and closes a foldable 100 times a day would reach 32,000 folds in a little under a year. A lighter user making 50 folds a day would take closer to two years.

That makes the test a useful benchmark, though not a definitive verdict. A hinge that survives it may still face problems from dust, moisture, drops or temperature extremes.

Different usage patterns also change the picture. Opening a phone slowly with two hands is very different from flicking it open with one.

Signs of Wear Testers Typically Look For

In hinge tests, reviewers usually check for changes in how the hinge feels, such as looseness, stiffness, grinding or unusual noises. Any of these can signal early mechanical wear.

They also inspect the screen, especially along the crease. Visible deepening, discoloration, or peeling of protective layers would be a concern after thousands of folds.

Finally, they look at whether the device still closes flat and stays at its intended angles. Alignment problems often appear before outright failure.

How Apple Compares With Samsung on Transparency

Samsung's published fold ratings are not perfect, since they come from the company's own lab conditions. Still, they give consumers a baseline and a point of accountability.

Apple traditionally keeps durability claims general and focuses on marketing specific materials or feature. For a new hinge design, that approach leaves buyers with fewer concrete facts.

If Apple wants to win over cautious customers, sharing its own test data could help. Until then, third-party experiments will keep filling that role.

What Buyers Should Take Away From This

A single test on a single device cannot predict how every unit will behave. Manufacturing variation means some phones may perform better or worse than the one on the machine.

Even so, a strong result is encouraging and a poor one is a warning. Either way, the experiment gives prospective buyers more information than Apple has provided.

Anyone planning to buy should also consider warranty terms and repair costs. A durable hinge matters less if a failure outside warranty is expensive to fix.

What to Watch for as More Tests Appear

Expect additional reviewers and repair specialists to run their own durability checks as devices reach more hands. Teardowns may reveal how the hinge is constructed and where weak points could lie.

Real-world feedback over several months will matter just as much as lab results. Long-term owners tend to uncover issues that short tests miss.

For now, Stern's 32,000-fold experiment is a valuable early data point in a conversation Apple has yet to join. Whether the company responds with its own numbers remains to be seen.

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