Teardown site iFixit took apart the iPhone Duo to examine its internals, dust resistance, and repairability. Before opening the device, iFixit covered it in fluorescent dust. The iPhone Duo carries an IP68 rating, and while dust collected in the USB-C port, speaker mesh, and bezel, few particles reached the internals. Particles did infiltrate the hinge, causing it to crunch, which could lead to screen damage. The hinge gathered less dust than the Galaxy Z Fold8 or Pixel 11 Pro Fold in similar tests. iFixit called the result "encouraging" but said the phone is not ideal for the beach. YouTuber JerryRigEverything also found dust entering the hinge and causing the magnets that hold the phone shut to fail.
iFixit easily peeled away the nano-texture cover layer, as Apple intended. Apple made it simple to remove so it could be replaced inexpensively, though users are not supposed to remove it themselves. With AppleCare+, replacing the cover layer costs $19, or $49 without it. The phone uses the battery adhesive Apple introduced with the iPhone 16, so a small electrical charge loosens it for battery removal, which iFixit called the "best battery removal experience" from a foldable to date.
The outer display was easy to remove, and iFixit described the construction as "robust," a plus for repairability. The inner screen trim comes off with heat, but considerable adhesive must be cut to remove the inner panel. Apple describes the inner display as a 10-layer stack, and iFixit peeled back some layers to view them under a microscope. The iPhone Duo also uses an unstacked logic board, the first iPhone to do so since the iPhone 8, a design that helped keep the device thin.
iFixit commented on reported display failures, suggesting causes such as pressure, a trapped particle, repeated bending, or a manufacturing defect. Damage clusters near a transition point in the hinge where several edges meet, a spot where stress may concentrate. iFixit also suggested the curved hinge rails may be lifting as the phone closes, with one rail aligning with the reported damage.
Source: MacRumors · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing