The first time we read “Apple” and “3D printing” in the same sentence, we immediately thought “mass production”. That was for its iPhone Air. The tech giant did it again, this time with the new iPhone Duo.
Crafted from grade 5 titanium for incredible strength, with an enclosure that has an elegant mirror-polished finish, the iPhone integrates a 3D-printed hinge cover with a contrasting micro-blasted finish.
Built by taking into account Apple’s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030, iPhone Duo is made with 35 percent recycled content overall, including 100% recycled cobalt in the battery and 100% recycled titanium in the 3D-printed hinge cover.
It is manufactured with 60 percent renewable energy, like wind and solar, across the supply chain, and meets Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry.
Like all Apple products, its paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled at home.
The environmental argument is legitimate, but it would be too easy to stop there.
While it might be easy to say that Apple has the means to achieve stable metal additive manufacturing at this scale, it’s worth questioning the reason behind the use of the technology, given its high cost: was it used for aesthetic purposes? Or because it wasn’t possible to manufacture the covers otherwise?
That’s probably something we would need to investigate further.
Source: Apple — iPhone Duo, 9 September 2026.
THE 3D ADEPT WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
The industry moves fast. Stay ahead.
Every week, the latest additive manufacturing news, in-depth features and real-world applications, straight to your inbox. Plus, be the first to know when a new issue of 3D ADEPT Mag is out.
Free · One email a week · Unsubscribe anytime
Clicking loads our email provider’s sign-up form, including its analytics and Google’s anti-bot protection. You’re only subscribed if you complete the sign-up. Read our privacy policy.