iPhone Duo hinge may be cracking foldable screens, iFixit tells Verge
Briefing by News4U · First published
After early reports of broken inner screens on Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo, Apple said Monday it is replacing damaged units from a small number of devices. iFixit’s teardown lead told The Verge the hinge can press the sensitive display at a stress hotspot.
Within hours of Friday’s iPhone Duo launch, users reported broken inner screens, often with a crack above the hinge and lines on the right side of the display, The Verge reported. On Monday, Apple acknowledged an “issue,” said it is replacing damaged units, and described the problem as affecting a “small number” of devices. [1]
Shahram Mokhtari, iFixit’s lead teardown technician, told The Verge the likely cause is along the hinge, where gears, springs and joints fold the phone flat. He said the flexible inner screen appears to push against a hinge part and is “extremely sensitive,” with damage often focused on a black spot that acts as a stress hotspot. [1]
iFixit teardowns show the center hinge support making space for a crossing flex cable, creating edges that may be the culprit if the support does not drop far enough. Mokhtari said Apple has the failure data and he expects a redesign for the next-generation foldable, while noting many phones still work without the crack. [1]
Sources
- Here’s why the iPhone Duo’s hinge could be cracking the screen
The Verge · · Full text