iPhone Foldable Screens Cracking on Launch Day

Reports have emerged of broken screens on some brand new foldable iPhones, just hours after their launch last Friday. Owners took to social media to share photos of damaged devices, showing a crack in the middle of the screen above the hinge and lines on the right side of the display.

The issue appears to be widespread, with multiple owners sharing similar problems. Apple acknowledged an "issue related to the damage on Monday, stating that it will replace affected units without providing further details on the scope of the problem so far.

Shahram Mokhtari, lead teardown technician at iFixit, has shed some light on the possible cause after taking apart one of these devices. According to him, a series of mechanical components along the hinge are likely responsible for putting stress on the screen.

These gears, springs, and joints work together to allow the phone to fold flat, while also trying to minimize the depth of the crease by giving the screen more room to bend when closed.

The design of the iPhone Duo's hinge is under scrutiny as several users have reported cracks in their screens. The issue appears to be centered around a specific area where the flexible inner screen meets the hinge mechanism.

According to Mokhtari, an expert who has analyzed damaged Duos, the damage often occurs at a black spot on the display, where the metal of the hinge comes into contact with the screen. This suggests that the metal is exerting pressure on the screen, potentially causing it to crack.

iFixit's teardowns have revealed the complex mechanics of the iPhone Duo's hinge, which involves a center support bar making space for a crossing flex cable. This creates several edges where stress could accumulate, potentially leading to damage. Specifically, iFixit has observed that the center support bar may not always drop down far enough while the screen folds.

The problem seems to be exacerbated when users fold and unfold their Duos repeatedly, creating a stress hot spot" between the flat bar and the bent screen inside a closed iPhone Duo. In one reported case, a user heard an audible crack as they continued to open and close their phone, ultimately leading to a broken screen.

The issue of a cracked screen due to the iPhone Duo's hinge has been documented by several users and durability testers. A YouTuber, CuriousHagi, conducted a strenuous test on a Duo with dirt and captured footage showing a similar type of screen break in the same area.

In a teardown video, it was found that a part of the hinge connecting to the central bar had snapped, contributing to the screen damage. Apple has acknowledged that the issue affects a limited number of units, but the exact extent is unknown.

The company's engineers are likely learning from this experience and will incorporate changes into future designs. As Mokhtari noted, since it's the first generation of the iPhone Duo, any data collected on hinge failures will inform improvements for next-generation foldable devices.