iFixit dismantles Apple's Duo: 'You'd better baby that screen'

What happened

The repair site iFixit did a teardown of the Duo. A teardown means taking a device apart piece by piece to study it. iFixit gave the phone a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10. That is its highest score yet for a foldable phone. Some owners have reported screen problems, such as lines on the display near the hinge. The hinge is the part that lets the phone fold. iFixit thinks the hinge design may put stress on the screen.

Key facts

• Score: 5 out of 10 from iFixit, its highest for a foldable phone so far
• The Duo has two batteries, and they can be replaced
• Removing the inner screen needed heat, a pick, and five types of screwdriver across the teardown
• The Duo resisted dust better than rival foldables, but enough dust still got in to make the hinge crunch

Why the screen is the problem

Foldable phones have a screen that bends in half. Dust and tiny bits of grit can get into the hinge and damage the screen over time. iFixit found that the damage in photos is not at the spot where the display cable runs through the hinge. It is a little lower, where the screen is supported as it bends. A center support bar may not drop far enough, which adds stress.

Why it matters

Repairs cost money, and this phone is expensive. iFixit warned that the cost of fixing the inner screen and hinge could stop owners from repairing it at all. For a phone this costly, a care plan like AppleCare+ may be a smart choice. iFixit's advice to owners was simple: take good care of the screen and keep dust out.

What to watch

• Whether more owners report screen lines near the hinge
• Whether Apple changes the hinge design in future phones
• How the Duo's score compares with other phones, such as the Fairphone, which scored far higher