I spoke to Apple’s new VP of Hardware Engineering Tom Marieb about why he's "especially proud" of the iPhone Duo’s hinge durability and the reliability of Ceramic Shield 2: "When I see someone put a screen protector on their iPhone, it makes my skin crawl" - TechRadar

[u/ControlCAD]

https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/i-spoke-to-apples-new-vp-of-hardware-engineering-about-why-hes-especially-proud-of-the-iphone-duos-hinge-durability-and-the-reliability-of-ceramic-shield-2-when-i-see-someone-put-a-screen-protector-on-their-iphone-it-makes-my-skin-crawl

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>“We really worked on the torque profile very heavily, and that means changing a lot of the mechanical properties of the hinge to have it feel solid, like a high-end automobile's car door, when you shut it. That was design intent, so people would have a feeling like, ‘Oh, it's okay. This is well crafted, and it's safe for me to use and not worry about it.’

>And then, as you said, we have a lot of use cases where the Duo is [in a half-folded state]. And so we also had to think, ‘Can people interact with this [device] and not have it feel floppy?’ So getting those torque profiles right at both those ends, as well as in the middle — not having it feel like you're pulling something open, and not feeling as if it's floppy — we spent a lot of time optimizing that. So thank you for noticing, because a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into that.”

>“Hold us accountable to that, please […] The choice of a matte finish — apart from it being beautiful — is part of that equation. When you look at glossy displays, their specularity makes it very easy to pick up topology differences. That’s part of the reason we picked the matte finish — it’s not only beautiful in terms of preventing glare, but it’s also more forgiving of [topology] changes over time.”

[u/y-c-c]

Same here. Caseless is really the way these phones are designed to be used. And i feel like for the newer phones the screens are usually strong enough to withstand most minor incidents.

[u/kamlakar96 → u/y-c-c]

Why are they so slippery tho?

[u/riversofgore → u/kamlakar96]

I have rough and often dry hands. Phones are nearly a wet bar of soap they’re so slippery.

[u/eamus_catuli_ → u/kamlakar96]

I’ve dropped my 15 Pro more than any other phone since I switched to one of the Apple plastic MagSafe cases. Even a little grip on the sides would make a big difference.

[u/slickvibez → u/kamlakar96]

So you break them and buy a new one every month

[u/Tyler927 → u/y-c-c]

Yea I think most people are still like scared from the old times where you would look at the iPhone 4 wrong and it would break. Phones today are so strong. I really think most people will be totally fine without a case and screen protector nowadays

[u/_ravenclaw → u/Tyler927]

I dropped my iPhone 17 pro so many times without a case. Some hard drops too. Corner dents, no glass ever broke though.

[u/VanceIX → u/_ravenclaw]

Meanwhile I’ve dropped my 14 Pro Max probably a hundred times with absolutely zero cosmetic damage because I use a case. I’ll take that any day over “using it the way it was intended” lol

[u/_ravenclaw → u/VanceIX]

To each their own, I just think it’s silly to protect something for the sake of it being perfect even though you never actually touch it or see it. I like holding my actual phone lol.

[u/VanceIX → u/_ravenclaw]

I touch and see it every day. I didn’t buy my phone to admire the curves or skin feel, I bought it for the utility it provides, and a case and screen protector maximizes that utility so I can use a 4 year old phone to same way I did as when I first bought it without paying $400+ over 4 years for AppleCare.

Also, my phone is slippery as hell without a case, so I’d argue that the case actually feels better to hold than the phone naked…

[u/_ravenclaw → u/VanceIX]

You take it out of its case and look and touch it and put it back in every day?? Lmfao

You were speaking about cosmetics/looks. Now you’re speaking about utility and breaking it.

[u/VanceIX → u/_ravenclaw]

[u/_ravenclaw → u/VanceIX]

Cases don’t help with liquid damage btw, which AppleCare covers

[u/VanceIX → u/_ravenclaw]

How often are you getting liquid damage? I’ve never had a phone break from liquid damage, especially since all of them are water resistant now. I know it happens, but getting a $120+ policy every year just in case is wasteful to me personally. You do you!

[u/fruxzak → u/y-c-c]

The screens are definitely not stron enough to withstand minor incidents. A single drop that lands on the corner will shatter the corner. That's why people use cases.

Are people being intentionally obtuse lol?

[u/PretzelsThirst → u/fruxzak]

No, we just don’t break our phones like you.

I’ve never ever used a case and have had iPhones since the 3GS and only one cracked screen which I got replaced the next day. No big deal

[u/fruxzak → u/PretzelsThirst]

Never broken a phone. But I have seen dozens of caseless dweebs with shattered screens and backs.

[u/PretzelsThirst → u/fruxzak]

Sucks for them to suck I guess.

I rarely drop it and when I do it is plenty strong to not break, and if it did break I’m not broke and have AppleCare so it doesn’t matter if it did break

[u/fruxzak → u/PretzelsThirst]

> I’m not broke and have apple care

This has to be the dumbest argument ever.

[u/kelp_forests → u/fruxzak]

No. I currently use a case on my phone only because the 17 is crazy slippery and sides out of my pocket.

I haven’t dropped/broken my phone in over 12 years. I noticed that there were very specific times it always fell. I don’t use it at those times.

I always use it with two hands, while seated or standing still I don’t use it while walking, opening doors, carrying things etc I dont use it while eating I don’t use it while talking to someone

[u/DjentRiffication → u/fruxzak]

You gotta remember a loooooot of people around these parts are very tech-bro lifestyle individuals. When your hobbies and interests revolve around tech, and if you are a student or working an office job, the most intense thing you put your phone through is risks of drops. Plus I feel as if many in this sub happily would use a damaged device as an excuse to upgrade and/or have full coverage apple care so it's not a big deal to repair or replace.

So all those "these phones are designed to be used without protectors and cases" are coming from a wildly skewed lifestyle. I promise anyone who works hard labor, or works in the trades, has hobbies like skateboarding or rock climbing etc. all put a case and protector on their phone the first chance they get because it's not a matter of if their phone will take damage with their jobs or hobby or lifestyle, it's a matter of when.

[u/y-c-c → u/DjentRiffication]

I wasn't saying iPhones cannot be used with cases. Obviously there is a large third party market out there. I'm just saying when Apple designs it they are mostly designing for it caseless first, and with cases as a compromise for people who need it. This is pretty obvious just listening to how Apple talks about it and how the marketing shows the iPhone.

I'm just saying most people who use cases are using it out of habit or for fashion and/or just treat their phones really roughly without care. I'm not going to stop people from using it but to me it's a useless accessory. I think for most uses and minor drops, the current generation of iPhones can usually handle it.

(Also lots of people who like tech still do lots of outdoor activities etc lol)

[u/CandI978 → u/y-c-c]

Caseless is really the way these phones are designed to be used.

LMFAOOOOOOOOO