PhoneBuff’s automated drop tests showed that repeated drops of the closed iPhone Duo directly onto the hinge from just under 1.5 meters caused the internal foldable screen to fail after the fourth drop.
Launch of the first foldable iPhone and start of extreme YouTube stress tests
Dust and reverse bend testing on JerryRigEverything
Automated hinge drop tests and spiral staircase experiments
Implications of the tests and the hefty $1,499 repair cost
FAQs
Launch of the first foldable iPhone and start of extreme YouTube stress tests
Apple’s first foldable “iPhone” went on official sale on October 23, 2026, under the name “iPhone Duo,” and prominent device durability testers on the “YouTube” platform quickly managed to break it during harsh trials. The content creator behind the “JerryRigEverything” channel found that dust and debris could infiltrate the “iPhone Duo” hinge, and that reverse bend testing directly damaged its internal screen.
Meanwhile, the “PhoneBuff” and “TechRax” channels conducted various drop tests; the “iPhone Duo” survived multiple drops, but in the “PhoneBuff” test, repeated drops directly onto the hinge ultimately disabled most of the foldable display. Notably, these trials are deliberate stress tests on individual units, highlighting the phone’s weak points without predicting how frequently owners might experience failures during normal daily use.
Dust and reverse bend testing on JerryRigEverything
Zack Nelson published his video on the “JerryRigEverything” channel the day after launch, according to “CNET”. Nelson praised the “Ceramic Shield 2” protective glass on the outer screen, but found that the 7.6-inch internal display, despite its nano-textured finish, scratches just as easily as the foldable screen on the “Galaxy Z Fold 8”.
When Nelson introduced dirt into the hinge interior, the phone could no longer close completely. He then bent the open phone backward; the chassis flexed without breaking, but a permanent green line appeared across the internal display, and a second fold added two more lines before the panel completely stopped responding to touch. According to “Dexerto”, Nelson stated: “The iPhone Duo does not survive my durability test,” explaining that he could not definitively determine whether trapped dust or a lack of hinge rigidity was the direct cause of the failure, while noting that Samsung’s foldables generally survived the same test, according to “iPhone in Canada”.
Automated hinge drop tests and spiral staircase experiments
The “PhoneBuff” channel pitted the “iPhone Duo” against the “iPhone 18 Pro Max” using its robotic drop machine on Saturday, October 24, 2026, according to “iPhone in Canada”. On a one-meter back drop, the “iPhone Duo’s” rear glass cracked just like the “iPhone 18 Pro Max’s”. On a one-meter face drop, the “iPhone Duo’s” outer screen cracked while the “iPhone 18 Pro Max’s” display survived.
Conversely, a direct drop onto the open internal screen caused no visible damage, which “Cult of Mac” attributed to the raised bezel surrounding the screen and the pre-installed screen protector. However, repeated drops on the closed hinge from just under 1.5 meters inflicted greater damage; the second drop left a line along the crease and caused intermittent ghost touches, and after the fourth drop, the left side of the internal panel failed and the right side stopped responding to touch.
Meanwhile, content creator “TechRax” dropped the “iPhone Duo” from the top of a 200-foot spiral staircase in his first experiment, shattering the inner screen while the hinge still opened and closed. In a second video, he dropped a fresh unit repeatedly onto pedestrian sidewalks from hand and pocket heights, and it took a long series of drops before the rear camera glass shattered, while the phone continued to function.
Implications of the tests and the hefty $1,499 repair cost
The testers emphasized that their findings remain limited in scope; “PhoneBuff” noted it tested “a sample size of just one phone,” but clarified that it has subjected other phones to harsh drop tests without seeing this pattern of failure, advising users who drop their phones frequently to “get a rugged case around this phone,” according to “Cult of Mac”.
Separate hinge tests showed the phone endured 32,000 folds without issues, but repair costs are extremely high; replacing the inner screen costs $1,499 outside of AppleCare+ coverage, according to a teardown report by “iPhone in Canada”.
FAQs
Question: What are the most prominent weaknesses observed in the iPhone Duo durability tests?
Answer: The tests revealed the hinge’s sensitivity to dust infiltration, and internal screen damage upon reverse bending or after repeated drops on the closed hinge from a height close to 1.5 meters.
Question: How did the open internal screen perform in the direct drop test?
Answer: The open internal screen survived without visible damage when dropped directly in the PhoneBuff test, thanks to its surrounding raised bezel and pre-installed screen protector.
Question: How many folds did the iPhone Duo hinge withstand in separate tests?
Answer: Separate folding tests showed the phone’s hinge endured 32,000 consecutive folding and unfolding operations without recording any mechanical issues.
Question: How much does it cost to replace the inner screen of the iPhone Duo?
Answer: Replacing the foldable inner screen costs $1,499 for users not subscribed to AppleCare+ coverage.
