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iFixit took apart the iPhone Duo to examine its component layout and level of repair difficulty. The repair guide site rated the device as the easiest foldable phone to repair among the foldable models it had previously disassembled. Even so, damage to the inner screen still requires complex work, considerable time, and high costs.
Components are relatively easy to access
According to iFixit's report, the iPhone Duo's outer screen, battery, and several other components are fairly easy to access. The process is also aided by the repair manual provided by Apple. This ease of access was one of the reasons the device was rated as easier to repair than other foldable phones previously disassembled by iFixit.
However, the inner screen presents a different situation. Replacing this component is considered a lengthy process that requires a high degree of precision. In a report published on Sunday, October 25, iFixit said the cost of replacing the inner screen could reach half the total price of a new device.
Dust reaches the hinge area
To test the device's resistance to dust, iFixit placed the iPhone Duo in a bag containing glowing dust, which can glow in the dark. After the device was disassembled, most of the dust was found accumulated on adhesive layers and around openings, mesh, and trim.
Some dust also reached the hinge and caused a crackling sound. Cleaning or replacing components in that area is not straightforward because the flexible screen and its support structure must first be removed. Even so, iFixit assessed the iPhone Duo's dust protection as better than that of several other foldable phones.
Center support suspected of creating pressure
Several users reported lines appearing on the screen after using the iPhone Duo for several days. Based on its teardown, iFixit suspects that one possible cause is an issue with the center support bar. The component is believed to create a pressure point that subsequently damages the screen's electrical connections.
Screen complaints first emerged after the iPhone Duo went on sale on Friday, October 23. According to 9to5Mac, the reported damage showed a similar pattern of cracking along the center fold, accompanied by a section of the screen glowing white horizontally. Some owners even said the damage occurred while they were still completing the device's initial setup.
Apple says only a small number of units are affected
On Monday, October 26, Apple acknowledged an issue affecting the inner screens of a small number of iPhone Duo units, according to MacRumors. The company did not explain the cause of the cracking or what type of remedy it planned to provide. Apple said the issue was not a form of damage that users should worry would worsen over time.
For now, iFixit has given the device a repairability score of 5 out of 10. The inner screen and hinge are the most difficult parts to handle because replacing them requires substantial effort, time, and expense. On the other hand, the matte nano-texture protective layer can be replaced without replacing the entire OLED screen. The misaligned oval pixel structure and the protective layer are also considered capable of concealing the screen crease.
The iPhone Duo's hinge mechanism uses a synchronized gear-and-spring system described as flexible and precise. This structure is designed to reduce strain or excessive pressure on the panel when the device is opened and closed. iFixit's findings continue to identify the flexible screen as the most challenging key component to maintain in the device.
