Repair specialist iFixit has taken apart Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, to find out why some users report cracked screens. The findings reveal specific hinge stress points and also show how the phone’s design influences repairability, making the story useful for anyone who owns or plans to buy a foldable.

iFixit found that a small amount of dust can slip into the hinge, cause it to jam, and raise the chance of screen damage. However, the iPhone Duo’s hinge collected less dust than the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold in the same tests.

According to iFixit, cracks tend to cluster near the transition between the ribbon‑cable slot and the central hinge support, creating a clear stress concentration point. The company also noted that the curved rails inside the hinge line up with reported damage locations, suggesting they add extra mechanical stress when the phone folds.

Apple’s nanostructured protective layer on the outer display is designed to be removable, allowing a replacement for $19 with AppleCare+ or $49 without it. The phone also uses an electrically releasable battery adhesive, which iFixit described as the best battery‑removal experience on a foldable, further easing repairs.

iFixit gave the iPhone Duo a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10, pointing to the inner display and hinge assembly as the biggest weaknesses. While the outer screen and battery are relatively easy to replace, the hinge’s stress points remain the main challenge for long‑term durability.