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A YouTuber dissected an iPhone Duo and thinks he found the cause of crackgate

Devices1 min read

A YouTuber took apart Apple's foldable iPhone Duo to find out why its screen cracks so easily. He thinks a thin link inside the hinge is the cause.

What happened

Many people with the iPhone Duo say the phone breaks fast. The hinge catches on something, then the screen cracks, and the cracks always seem to appear in the same place. The YouTuber CuriousHagi copied the crack during durability tests. Then he opened the phone to look for the cause.

Key facts from the teardown

  • The hinge has a gear-like center piece and two types of linking hinges.
  • The link that broke is in the middle of the phone and is thinner than the links above and below it.
  • The link snapped at a small notch, where it would be weakest.
  • Marks on the support plate show where the hinge may have caught.

Why the hinge matters

A foldable phone bends in half, so its hinge must move many times without breaking. The hinge on the iPhone Duo is more complex than a simple pin. It is made of several small parts that work together. If one part is weak, the whole screen can suffer.

Why it matters

If the cause is a thin hinge link, the problem is in the design, not just bad luck with a few phones. This could affect how safe the phone is to use and whether Apple has to fix it. It also shows how hard it is to build a folding screen that lasts.

What to watch

  • Whether Apple confirms the cause of the cracks.
  • Whether Apple changes the hinge design or offers a repair or replacement.
  • Whether more users report the same crack in the same spot.

Glossary

iPhone Duo
Apple's foldable iPhone, a phone with a screen that bends in half.
CuriousHagi
A YouTuber who tests and takes apart gadgets to show how they work.

Same story, different eyes

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