iPhone Duo completely disassembled
Technicians at the Kingmi Mobile service center have published a video showing the first complete teardown of the foldable smartphone iPhone Duo.
How Apple hid the crease in the display
One of the most interesting parts of the teardown was removing the matte protective layer from the inner display. Beneath the removable nano-texture coating was a glossy display, where the crease down the center was much more visible.
So the matte coating not only reduces glare but also makes the fold less noticeable. The crease itself does not disappear, however, and becomes significantly more visible once the protective layer is removed.
One advantage of this design is that the coating can be replaced separately if it gets scratched or otherwise damaged. This requires a visit to an Apple Store or an authorized service center.
Two batteries and fragile cables
The iPhone Duo has two batteries, one in each half of the body. This layout distributes the batteries between the two halves of the phone, but makes them harder to replace. Accessing them requires removing the back panel and the outer display.
Kingmi Mobile’s technicians also criticized the design of the connecting cables. Apple used very thin, flexible cables with intricate bends to connect the cameras and other components. They take up minimal space in the slim body, but are easily damaged during careless disassembly.
Modular design and costly repairs
The technicians cited the high degree of modularity as one of the design’s advantages. The motherboard, main cameras and front-facing cameras can each be removed and replaced separately. The body also contains magnets that help keep the two halves of the phone closed.
However, repairing the most expensive components remains a difficult task. Replacing the foldable display and hinge mechanism requires extensive disassembly.
Replacing a damaged inner display costs $999, while repairing serious damage involving the hinge mechanism can cost $1499.
