The popular repair team at iFixit has officially opened up the newest foldable smartphone from Apple to see what is happening inside. Their latest video provides a close look at the mechanics inside the iPhone Duo and attempts to figure out why some early owners report screen cracks. By running the device through various tests and scans, they found several interesting details about the folding display and its overall design.
Engineers take apart the complex hinge to find potential problems
The biggest area of focus for the teardown is the folding mechanism. Users have been hearing a crunching sound when opening the phone. Right after that noise, bright lines start appearing across the screen. iFixit ran the phone through a dust test to see if dirt was causing the issue. The hinge started making noises after the test, but the team found very little dust actually made its way inside the device.
The hinge uses a mix of gears, springs, and metal joints to fold the display into a waterdrop shape. This design helps the screen bend without folding too sharply. Using specialized scans, the repair team built a 3D model of this area to investigate the damage to the inner display. They found that a central support bar might not be moving back correctly when the phone closes. If it gets stuck, it puts too much pressure directly on the delicate screen layers. Another theory points to curved metal guides that could press into the screen if they fail to shift properly.
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The foldable phone earns surprisingly high marks for overall repairability
While the screen failures are a concern, the new foldable iPhone actually scored very well for general repairs. iFixit gave the device a provisional score of five out of ten. This is the highest score they have ever given to a folding smartphone. A big reason for this score is how the company handled the batteries. There are two separate batteries inside, and both use a special adhesive that releases when a small electrical charge is applied. This makes removing the batteries incredibly easy compared to older models.
The display also hides some smart design choices. The matte screen surface has tiny rounded bumps that help scatter light, making the middle crease less visible. Additionally, the outer display and the plastic borders around the inner screen are held together with physical clips instead of strong glue. This means parts can be removed safely without breaking them.
While the root cause of the broken screens is still being studied, these internal views give a clear picture of both the risks and the engineering improvements. The design is impressive, and the repair process is easier than expected. As more people use the device, we should get a clearer idea of how these folding parts will hold up over months of regular use.
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