The crease running down the middle of the screen is the flaw that worries foldable buyers most. For iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable, the company’s answer is simple: the layer that hides it can be peeled off and swapped for a new one.
The claim comes from Kate Bergeron, Apple’s vice president of hardware engineering, in an interview with creator Angelica Siciliani Fendi. In her words, the layer is “replaceable”, and customers can “take it off and get a new one”.
What changes in practice
Over iPhone Duo’s inner display sits a cover layer with a matte finish, designed to make the crease less visible. Apple says it did “significant engineering work” to make it last as long as possible. It admits, however, that it won’t last forever: with use it may wear down, and the crease may become more noticeable again.
With a replacement, the panel should return close to how it looked on day one without changing the whole screen, which is the most expensive repair on any foldable.
How much it costs
For now there is only one price, and it is American. According to Apple’s website, owners with AppleCare+ for iPhone Duo pay $19 to replace the layer. The cost without coverage has not been given, and there are no figures for Italy or Switzerland. It is also unclear whether the job will be limited to Apple Stores and authorised service centres: that seems likely, but Apple hasn’t said, and it isn’t known whether trying it yourself would be wise.
The background: prices and dates
Apple unveiled iPhone Duo on 9 September. In the US it starts at $1,999 for the 256 GB model and rises to $2,199 and $2,399 for 512 GB and 1 TB. It opens like a book: the front screen is 5.4 inches, and unfolded it offers 7.6.
Pre-orders open on 16 October and in-store sales begin on 23 October, in 70 countries. For euro and Swiss franc prices, we’ll have to wait for Apple’s local price lists.
Who should take note
- Anyone worried about the crease. Knowing there is an official, low-cost fix removes some of the uncertainty about wear over time.
- Anyone who keeps a phone for three or four years. That is the timeframe in which the crease becomes a real issue, and where AppleCare+ will make the most sense.
- Anyone buying second-hand. A replaceable layer makes it easier to restore a worn handset.
Our verdict
We like that Apple is tackling the problem rather than denying it. Treating the crease as a consumable part is an honest approach, much like a battery: it wears out, so you replace it.
Two questions remain open, though, and they are not minor details. The first is the out-of-warranty price: $19 with AppleCare+ is a reassuring figure, but without coverage it could be much higher, and until we know, the real value is hard to judge. The second is durability: how long does the layer last before it needs changing? If a replacement is needed every year, the cost adds up on top of the phone’s near-$2,000 price.
For those who have already made up their minds, the advice is practical: before ordering, check the AppleCare+ terms in Italy once they are online, and see whether the replacement is included or paid for. For everyone else, this is good news, but it doesn’t change the basic rule for first-generation foldables: better to wait for the first reviews and the first months of real-world use.
Written by the SpazioiTech newsroom with the help of AI tools, from facts verified across at least two independent outlets, and checked before publication. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian
