The teardown follows reports from multiple users on social media claiming that cracks were developing along the middle of the screen, precisely where the display crease runs.
Apple designed the hinge with multiple curved guides to create a smooth folding motion while minimising the appearance of the crease. These guides extend when the display is folded and retract when it is opened. A central support bar running along the hinge also drops to accommodate the folding movement.
Apple further reduces the crease's visibility by aligning oval-shaped pixels in a specific pattern and applying a nano-texture coating that effectively “blurs” the fold point. iFixit demonstrated this effect by examining the display under a powerful microscope.
However, the retractable curved guides and central support bar could also point to a potential cause of the reported screen cracks. To investigate the issue, iFixit built a 3D model of the hinge using “teardown footage, patents and CT scans, then compared it with the reported damage locations”.
One of its simulations suggested that the central bar might not drop far enough when the screen folds. This could create a stress point where the display presses against the bar, potentially contributing to damage along the crease.
iFixit also found that, despite the iPhone Duo's IP68 dust-resistance rating, fine particles could enter the hinge mechanism, as they can in other foldable phones. Such particles could cause the hinge to “crunch” and damage the display, potentially producing the “green line” pattern reported by some users. According to iFixit, the device's internal mechanism is dust-resistant, but the hinge itself may not be adequately protected.
Beyond the hinge and inner display, iFixit found that several other components were sturdy and relatively easy to repair. The group successfully removed the outer screen and batteries, while smaller components were described as “fairly accessible”.
However, the inner display and hinge accounted for the largest deductions in the repairability assessment. iFixit noted that “many are opting for AppleCare+ coverage for this reason”, adding that “the early reports of screen failures make clear that display replacement is more than a distant possibility”.
iFixit assigned the iPhone Duo a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10, pending the availability of replacement parts. Its findings highlight the challenges of repairing the foldable device, particularly as questions remain about the hinge mechanism and reports of damage to the inner display.
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