Apple's Foldable iPhone Duo Reports Cracking Screens; iFixit Gives It 5/10 for Repairability
Users report that the inner screen of Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is cracking. Repair company iFixit has taken the device apart and given it a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10.
Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, may already have screen problems in its first batch. Several Reddit posts claim the inner screen cracks when the device is opened, with some cases reportedly occurring very soon after purchase, such as during setup. Some damage may come from influencers deliberately trying to break the phone, such as YouTuber JerryRigEverything. People are already calling the situation “crackgate.” The phone costs $1,999.
It is unclear how widespread the problem is or whether it affects only a small number of units. WIRED's review unit has shown no issues after more than two weeks of daily use. Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
A familiar issue for foldables
In foldable phones, the hinge puts strain on the screen and internal components, and it is also a way for dust to get in. That happened with Samsung's original Galaxy Fold in 2019, when the company had to pause sales and fix the defect. As the category has matured, such problems have largely diminished.
What iFixit found
Repair company iFixit published its iPhone Duo teardown, with a video, on Sunday. The phone received a provisional repairability rating of 5/10, which may change depending on how Apple supplies replacement parts. It is nonetheless the highest repair score iFixit has given any foldable phone.
The battery and back panels are easy to remove and replace, the outer trim comes off in one piece, and the 5.4-inch front screen detaches fairly easily. Almost everything is held by brackets and screws that can be reused.
The inner display is the hard part. A thin matte nano-texture layer covers the OLED screen and could easily be peeled off if handled carelessly; Apple's support page tells users not to remove it. Taking out the whole inner screen requires softening the adhesive with a heat gun and pulling the screen away with force. This appears to be the most fragile component and the hardest to replace. Apple's inner screen repair costs $999. Dust also gathers in the hinge, making it sound “crunchy.”
Apple long resisted user repairs but has offered repair options since 2021, partly because of legislation in the US and European Union. A repair manual for the iPhone Duo was widely available on launch day.
