An interview with John Ternus, who says the memory shortage is "a crisis" and "all options should be on the table", and that Tim Cook "has great relationships" (Andrew R. Chow/Time)

TIME magazine featured John Ternus on its cover as part of its list of the best inventions of 2026. The article centers on his interview discussing the upcoming iPhone Duo, a foldable device that is set to launch after a decade of development. Ternus, who has been involved in foldable technology since 2011, expressed his early skepticism towards other companies' attempts at foldable devices, stating they felt "cheap and crappy."

Apple's VP of Product Design, Richard Dinh, recounted a story where Ternus encouraged the team to invest more time and effort into the project, even when others were considering settling for a less than ideal surface material. This led to the development of a unique nanotexture surface that has received positive feedback from early users who couldn't detect a crease.

Ternus emphasized his focus on design, dedicating multiple days a week to collaborating with the industrial-design and human-interface teams.