The device teardown site iFixit conducted a detailed technical report on Apple's new foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, to identify its internal components, its resistance to dust, and its ease of repair, while highlighting the potential causes of screen failure issues recently reported by some users.
Dust Resistance and Hinge Tests
The team began its tests by exposing the phone to quantities of fluorescent dust to verify the efficiency of the IP68 water and dust resistance standard. The inspection showed that some particles entered the USB-C charging port, the speaker grille, and the outer frame, while the internal components initially succeeded in repelling most of them.
However, some dust infiltrated the hinge mechanism, causing grinding noises, which could eventually lead to screen damage. iFixit noted that the amount of dust collected by the iPhone Duo's hinge was lower compared to competing phones like the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold in similar tests, describing the results as encouraging, despite warning against using the phone in sandy environments such as beaches.
Potential Causes of Screen Cracking
Commenting on user reports regarding the appearance of lines of lit pixels and screen cracks near the hinge, iFixit suggested that the problem may be caused by mechanical pressure, trapped solid particles, repeated bending, or potential manufacturing defects, noting that the flaw may be related to the path of the connection cables or the edge intersection areas that concentrate stress while folding the device.
Based on a 3D model of the hinge built using teardown footage, patents, and CT scans, the team observed that fractures cluster near the transition point of the flexible cable to the central support of the hinge, where the way the thin screen is supported changes as it bends.
Repairability Assessment and Internal Components
The site gave the iPhone Duo a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10, slightly outperforming its competitors, the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which scored 4 out of 10. This rating was based on several organizational and design factors:
- Batteries: The use of an adhesive that reacts to a small electrical charge to easily detach the batteries, which is the best experience in foldable phones to date.
- Outer Screen: A robust design that allows the outer screen to be removed intact as a primary step to access internal components.
- Motherboard: The adoption of a single-layer, non-stacked motherboard for the first time in Apple phones since the iPhone 8 to maintain the device's thinness.
- Protective Layer: A nano-coating that is easy to replace through service centers at a relatively low cost.
The internal screen and the hinge assembly remain the most complex and damage-prone points in the device's structure, making precise repairs difficult despite the structural improvements added by Apple.