iPhone Duo Teardown

What happened

A repair group opened up the iPhone Duo, Apple's new folding iPhone. Some owners already report cracks and bright lines along the fold. Apple is giving replacement units for now, but screen damage outside the warranty costs $999. The team looked at the inside parts, the hinge, and the special textured surface on the screen.

Key numbers and facts

• Replacing the outer cover layer costs $49 without AppleCare, or $19 with AppleCare.
• Replacing the inner screen costs $999 without coverage.
• Out-of-warranty screen damage costs $999.
• The team says this is the most repairable foldable smartphone they have ever taken apart.

Why the crease is hard to hide

Every foldable phone bends again and again, and the material gets tired over time. This can leave marks or wrinkles along the fold. The Duo uses a matte, bumpy surface called a nano-texture to scatter light and hide the crease. Without this layer, the crease looks even more visible, so the trick is only a disguise.

Why it matters

The Duo shows that a folding phone can be built with easier repairs in mind, such as batteries that are simple to remove and parts that are easy to reach. But the inner screen is still very costly and hard to fix. For people who own a foldable phone, the price of a broken screen is a big concern.

What to watch

• Whether more owners report cracks or bright lines along the fold.
• How Apple's replacement program for early units works.
• Whether repair shops get access to the parts and procedures they need.
• Whether the cover-layer replacement service becomes easier or cheaper over time.