iFixit: iPhone Duo screen issues may be related to the hinge

The smartphone teardown organization iFixit released a teardown report for Apple's foldable phone iPhone Duo, indicating that screen failures may be related to the hinge. According to Caixin, this model has received a large amount of negative feedback after its launch, with some consumers reporting cracks in the inner screen after just a few days or even hours of use. iFixit stated that many users reported failures that seem to be concentrated near the lower middle part of the right half of the screen.

iFixit constructed a 3D model of the hinge by scanning, teardown videos, and studying Apple's patents. One possibility is that the central support rod fails to retract properly when the phone is closed, applying excessive pressure on the screen; another possibility is that the curved guide rail that directs the hinge movement is higher than the surrounding components during the folding process, and if it does not move as expected, it may interfere with the screen. iFixit has not determined the final cause of the failure, but the failure area bears similarities to the internal geometry of the hinge.

The report states that the hinge consists of gears, springs, and interconnected metal joints, featuring a teardrop design, and Apple also uses a curved guide rail to control joint movement. iFixit gave the iPhone Duo a repairability score of 5 out of 10, stating that it may be the easiest foldable screen phone to repair. Due to the use of clips instead of relying entirely on adhesives, the frame around the inner screen is removable without damage, and the outer screen is also relatively easy to detach.