The cause behind a repeating pattern in the way a very small amount of cracks on the iPhone Duo’s screen could be discovered, with a failing hinge element believed to cause the most damage.
Since the launch of the iPhone Duo, cracked screens have been observed within hours of its release. While infant device failures are to be expected during major product launches, there is a consistency in how the screen itself cracks.
Observing videos such as the JerryRigEverything “test” and posts on Reddit shows that the screen cracks in a fairly typical way under stress. In many cases, the fault develops at the fold line and extends horizontally to the edge.
It is expected that it is the screen itself that cracks during the turn, but there is also another component that can be the cause. If a video from YouTuber CuriousHagi is to be believed, this could be due to a faulty hinge.
During his own tests, which involved a lot of dirt and stressed the screen by folding the hinge backwards, he tried to close the iPhone Duo, but it wouldn’t close. He then tried to open it from its partially closed state, only to hear a loud bang.
Like other cases, the screen shows a large white issue going from the fold to one of the sides. However, the YouTuber went a step further and took apart the damaged iPhone Duo to find out the cause.
After tearing off the screen, he closely inspected the hinge mechanism and discovered something that had sheared off in the same location as the origin of the screen crack. It appears to be a hinge element that connects to a top support plate.
It is pointed out that the hinge in question is a bit thinner than the top and bottom hinges, making it more susceptible to breakage. Additionally, a closer check of the hinge reveals heavy crush marks on a nearby mechanism that may have played a role.
The underside of the display also has what appears to be an impact mark, likely caused by the broken hinge element making contact. The most logical outcome is that the hinge failed to engage properly, the section sheared off, and then hit the screen, cracking it.
Another small-scale problem
While there are reports of screen crashes, as well as a commonality that they suffer from a specific issue, this is still a limited issue for Apple. There is no major outcry online yet about screens breaking in a particular way.
That said, so far after launch this is still a very small scale issue.
A broken hinge element in the iPhone Duo – Image credit: CuriousHagi/YouTube
On October 24, AppleInsider verified with sources we’ve worked with for over 15 years, across Apple Genius bars in seven stores. Four of these stores are major flagships.
At that time, none of the stores surveyed had seen any devices being repaired or returned due to broken screens. A secondary check carried out on Sunday evening revealed that there was only one case in all stores.
This number will increase over time, but it is not yet clear whether the number per capita will increase. So far, the problem is not as widespread as the sensationalist videos suggest.
As a reminder, it is not recommended to abuse the iPhone Duo hinge by bending it upside down, even out of curiosity, unless you are prepared to pay for repairs.
And if yours breaks, report it to Apple. They don’t listen to Reddit or social media.
Gn tech
