iFixit gives iPhone Duo a 5‑out‑of‑10 repair score

iFixit released a detailed teardown of Apple’s new foldable iPhone Duo, giving the device a repairability score of 5 out of 10 – the highest mark the site has awarded to any foldable phone yet.

The study focused on the hinge, which iFixit described as built with a complex arrangement of gears, springs and metal joints in a water‑drop shape. A fluorescent dust test revealed that dust can still reach the hinge, causing a crunchy sound when the device is opened or closed; the hinge gathered less dust than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, but enough to trigger the noise. Curved guides that control the hinge’s motion also help reduce stress on the display as it folds. This design, described in several of Apple’s patents, is more intricate than earlier filings suggested. iFixit also noted that the outer screen could be removed without damage, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and that the battery cells are held in place with electrically releasable adhesive. The larger battery is 11.567 Wh and the smaller one is 7.506 Wh, together 19.073 Wh. The screen’s matte nano‑texture and oval‑shaped subpixels are intended to scatter light and hide the crease. TechRadar added that replacing the inner screen and hinge takes a lot of work, time and money because the parts are assembled in a complicated way that requires disassembling both halves of the phone.