A prominent overseas IT YouTuber who previously pointed out durability issues with Apple's first foldable phone, the "iPhone Duo," this time raised the possibility that there may be problems with the hinge design after directly disassembling the product.
Earlier, repair specialist iFixit also presented a similar analysis, drawing attention to Apple's hinge structure as the cause of the screen defect.
The YouTube channel "JerryRigEverything" released a video titled "iPhone Duo Teardown – Apple Should Apologize" on Tuesday.
JerryRigEverything previously revealed durability test results showing that when sand was sprinkled on the iPhone Duo, the device did not fold completely, and when bent in the opposite direction, green lines appeared on the internal screen. At the time, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold8 operated normally under the same type of test, providing a contrast.
This time, he disassembled the iPhone Duo to track down the cause of the screen damage. He noted that the screen damage reported on new products was concentrated in areas where specific components inside the hinge make contact. It is possible that screws loosening or parts moving put pressure on the back of the display.
He said, "If I were Samsung, I would be quite angry at a situation where our displays look like defective products because of Apple's hinge."
The internal display of the iPhone Duo is supplied by Samsung Display, but the hinge was designed in-house by Apple. It is pointed out that even if the screen was damaged due to hinge design issues, it could be misunderstood as a quality problem with Samsung Display.
Earlier, electronics repair specialist iFixit also raised the possibility on the 25th that the hinge structure might be the cause of the screen defect.
As a result of analyzing the internal structure through CT (computed tomography) and 3D simulation, it was found that if the central support does not lower sufficiently when folding the device, pressure could concentrate on the display. The locations of screen damage revealed by consumers also overlapped with this area.
During JerryRigEverything's disassembly process, a large amount of sand and dust that had entered inside the hinge was also discovered. Foreign matter sprinkled during previous durability tests had reached the back of the display. He stated, "A single grain of sand can ruin a $1,000 screen," while raising doubts about the waterproof and dustproof performance that Apple emphasized as IP68 rated.
However, he explained that foreign matter ingress and screen defects occurring on new products could be separate issues. This is because sand can damage any part of the screen, whereas defects on new products are concentrated in specific locations.
Comparing it with the hinge structure of the Galaxy Z Fold8, he criticized, "It's not that consumers folded it wrong. Apple made it wrong." He further urged Apple to effectively provide a permanent free warranty for the internal display of the first-generation iPhone Duo.
Apple acknowledged that screen issues occurred in some products and announced a replacement policy, but did not explain the exact cause. The estimated repair cost for domestic iPhone Duos excluded from warranty is 1.649 million won based on internal screen replacement, which amounts to approximately 50% of the base model's retail price.
in TECH
