CNET Labs Live Stream: Folding the Apple iPhone Duo to Failure With the Custom Foldo Machine

CNET editors Numei and lab director Matthew Murray host a live session from CNET Labs, where a purpose-built durability rig called the Foldo continuously opens and closes an Apple iPhone Duo around the clock. The discussion covers how the machine was designed and tuned, how the test is measured and documented, and which questions viewers raised in the chat during the broadcast.

■ Machine Design and Test Setup
- The Foldo was assembled in weeks, but research, experimentation, wiring, and a month of tuning came first
- A 0.35 mm filament reopens the device, chosen through testing for reliable open/close action
- A roughly 4-second folding cadence and a room kept near 65°F limit heat buildup at the hinge
- Emergency stop controls, 24/7 operation, and a tablet plus web interface for running the test

■ Measurement and Monitoring
- Continuous power and force readings are exported to spreadsheets to detect failure points
- Overhead and side cameras capture photos and video, with automated flagging of anomalies
- Roughly every 100,000 folds the machine is paused for hands-on checks of real-world usability

■ Scope and Compatibility
- The rig was validated against multiple foldable phones, with custom 3D-printed sleds per model
- Earlier work progressed on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 before the iPhone Duo test began
- Compatibility limits, such as certain tri-fold designs, and plans for a future version are discussed

■ Viewer Q&A Topics
- Representativeness of machine folding versus human use, hinge heat, and filament durability
- Degradation tracking, expected failure modes, and handling of reported screen cracking concerns
- The team purchased the iPhone Duo at retail and share experiences loading it into the rig

This broadcast suits readers following foldable phone durability testing and hands-on lab methodology. Viewers gain an understanding of how a controlled, repeatable folding test is constructed and monitored, and what its results can and cannot indicate about everyday use. Tune in to the weekday live stream sessions, and check CNET's coverage for subsequent updates on the test.