iPhone Duo Teardowns Identify Possible Causes of Early Screen Cracks

Reports of cracked inner displays are emerging among iPhone Duo owners, including cases in which the foldable phone allegedly failed within hours of setup. Users have described hinges catching or making a cracking sound, followed by cracks or bright lines near the fold.

iFixit’s teardown identified two possible failure mechanisms but did not establish a definitive cause. Using teardown footage, patents and CT scans to model the hinge, the repair group found that the center support bar could create a stress point if it fails to retract far enough as the display folds. It also found that fine particles may enter the hinge despite the phone’s IP68 dust-resistance rating, potentially causing crunching in the mechanism and damage associated with green lines across the display.

Separately, YouTuber CuriousHagi reproduced a cracked screen during durability testing and found a broken link within the phone’s complex hinge. According to The Verge, the component was thinner than neighboring links and snapped at a notch, while marks suggested the hinge may have caught against the support plate.

iFixit praised several repair-related features, including electrically released batteries, an easily removed outer display and relatively accessible smaller components. However, it said repairs to the inner display and hinge remain difficult and gave the Duo a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10, pending the availability of replacement parts. Apple is reportedly offering replacement units in some cases, while PhoneArena reported at least one disputed warranty claim.