As is tradition, iFixit opened the latest iPhone and left its parts exposed on a table. It found some interesting details about how Apple might be hiding the crease on the Duo’s foldable screen and gave it a repairability score of 5/10. It may not seem particularly high, but it’s the best score the site has given to a foldable device yet.
The matte nano-texture coating on the internal screen not only makes it more readable in sunlight; It also helps mask the crease by dispersing reflections. Looking at the screen under a microscope, iFixit also found oval-shaped subpixels arranged at various angles, which the site believes are designed to reduce artifacts and further mask the crease in the middle of the screen.
The nanotexture outer layer is relatively easy to replace without changing the OLED underneath. However, if you need screen repair, good luck. As with other foldables, it’s an expensive nightmare. Dust got into the USB-C port, speaker grills, and hinge, making it a little creaky. But noticeably less shiny dust got into the phone than the Z Fold8 or the Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
As for reports of damaged screens and broken hinges, iFixit has a few theories. The iPhone Duo’s hinge is incredibly complex and they suspect that sometimes part of it doesn’t descend correctly. There is also an accordion wire that runs through that exact point and is near the edge of the battery. This may be concentrating the pressure and causing the “audible cracking” reported by some and broken screens. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
