Apple Opens iPhone Duo Hinge API to Developers
Craig Federighi says he is excited to see what developers build with the iPhone Duo hinge, as Apple exposes hinge angle and device pose through a new API.
Apple is giving developers access to the hinge mechanism in the iPhone Duo, according to an interview with the company's software chief, Craig Federighi. The API lets apps read the hinge angle with an accuracy of around five degrees, and can also read the pose of the device.
Apple communicates poses such as book, on-table and tent to developers. The company already uses the hinge angle in its own software, including a feature where the outer screen defocuses into a preview of the inner one as the phone opens.
Federighi told Donald Decodes he is excited to see what developers will do with the hinge mechanism, and said he is confident they will do creative things with the hinge information. He described the goal as a feature users perceive automatically rather than a fancy animation.
The move follows Apple's history of exposing sensor data such as gyroscope and accelerometer readings. The company has built its platform on high-level frameworks like UIKit and SwiftUI that abstract away many layout problems, and it supports agentic coding tools to help developers adapt existing apps.
Quick answers
What can developers do with the iPhone Duo hinge API?
The API lets developers read the hinge angle with an accuracy of around five degrees and read the pose of the device, such as book, on-table and tent poses.
How does Apple use the hinge angle in its own software?
Apple uses the hinge angle in a feature where the outer screen defocuses into a preview of the inner one as the phone opens.
Who is Craig Federighi?
Craig Federighi is Apple's software chief. He was interviewed by Donald Decodes.