iPhone Duo screen cover can be replaced for $19 to hide the crease
The top protective layer of the new iPhone Duo flexible screen can be removed and replaced if it wears out. This solution allows the display surface to be refreshed without replacing the entire expensive panel.
Why a replaceable layer is needed
The internal foldable display of the iPhone Duo features a nanotextured matte coating. It reduces glare and simultaneously makes the crease at the fold less noticeable.
According to Kate Bergeron, Apple’s VP of Hardware Engineering, the company’s engineers paid special attention to the durability of this layer, but its surface may still wear out over time. Therefore, the protective coating was made replaceable: if damage appears or the crease becomes more visible, the layer can be replaced with a new one.
However, removing the coating to use the iPhone Duo with a standard glossy screen is not intended. The protective layer is part of the foldable display’s design and must remain in place while the smartphone is in use.
Replacement cost
In the US, for iPhone Duo owners with AppleCare+, replacing the protective layer will cost $19. The cost of the same procedure without AppleCare+ has not yet been disclosed.
Separate rates apply for other types of repairs. Replacing the external display or back glass costs $29, while repairing the internal foldable screen costs $99. The same amount will be charged for fixing other accidental damage, and replacing the device in the event of theft or loss will cost $149.
Apple considers the coating replacement a separate service operation, rather than a replacement of the entire internal display. Therefore, wear on the top layer should not automatically mean an expensive repair of the entire foldable panel.
Price and release date
Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo start on October 16, and sales will begin on October 23. In the US, the base version of the smartphone with 256 GB of storage costs $1999.
