iFixit has completed its teardown of the iPhone Duo, revealing the intricate hinge design that may be causing cracked screens. The Duo is hailed as the most repairable folding phone to date, though the disassembly process is not for the faint of heart. To enable smooth folding and minimize the crease, Apple implemented a twofold approach: a smooth curve created by multiple curved guides within the hinge and a center support bar that drops to accommodate the fold.
Additionally, the crease is effectively blurred using oval pixels and a nano-texture coating. iFixit's analysis, using a 3D hinge model, suggests that if the center bar fails to drop far enough, it creates a stress point during folding, potentially leading to screen cracks. Furthermore, despite the IP68 dust resistance rating, fine particles can enter the hinge mechanism, causing it to "crunch" and damage the screen, resulting in the "green line" pattern reported by some users. While outer screens and batteries are easily removable, the inner display and hinge proved the most challenging, accounting for the largest deduction in repairability.
Consequently, many users are opting for Apple Care+ coverage due to early screen failure reports. Ultimately, iFixit awarded the iPhone Duo a provisional 5/10 repair score, pending the availability of replacement parts.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing