Experts take apart Apple’s folding iPhone and uncover possible reason for cracked screens

After the owner of the $1,999+ iPhone Duo claimed their foldable made an alarming ‘crack’ and had to be replaced after less than 20 folds, the device has been put under the microscope to find out why.

Apple’s new device is what you get when you cross an iPhone with an iPad to create a 7.6 inch mini tablet.

With a massive screen which is apparently capable of double scrolling on each side, you could simultaneously watch YouTube and be on TikTok at the same time.

However, one Redditor wasn't able to do any of those things after they claimed their Duo broke after ‘about six hours’ of use.

The person said online: “I was showing it to a friend, and as I opened it, I felt something around the internal hinge, underneath the screen.

“As I continued opening it, I heard an audible crack, and the screen broke right along the hinge."

The incident sparked many questions and even accusations that the person had used artificial intelligence to fake their evidential picture, which showed a Duo with a large white blank spot without pixels across one side of the screen.

However, iFixit have since decided to take the new phone type apart to see just why this would happen, and apparently, it could be down to the tiniest of problems.

"We took the Duo all the way down to the gears, followed glowing dust into its hinge, and put its crease-hiding nano-texture under the microscope," said the analysis posted on 25 October.

What ended up being found as the likely culprit is the support bar at the hinge.

Because Apple users have described opening or closing their device, hearing some sort of crack, and then seeing a small line across the display – the experts reveal this points to the central hinge support not being able to take the pressure of the open and close movement.

The professional fixers said they figured out the possible answer after building a 3D hinge model from 'teardown footage, patents, and CT scans, then compared it with the reported damage locations'.

Apple's fix could cost nearly a grand (Apple)

They detailed in the report: "The breaks cluster near the transition from the gap for the crossing flex cable to the central hinge support. The damage we’re seeing in photos isn’t right where the display cable passes through the hinge, but slightly lower, at a point where several edges meet and change how the thin display is supported as it bends."

They said that it could be down to the center support bar failing to drop far enough, creating a 'small stress hotspot near the reported break location' when the fold drops low.

According to Apple, if you need to get the inner display fixed, which in the case of the support bar causing a crack to the inner display – it could set you back just under a grand.

Per the official Apple website, such a repair in the UK would cost £999, and if you had other repairs needed, you could look at spending £1,499.

At this point, iFixit recommends choosing Apple Care as part of your package when purchasing the phone to help with those costs.