JerryRigEverything’s iPhone Duo fails durability test as screen breaks
Apple‘s $1,999 iPhone Duo has failed a durability test conducted by YouTuber Zack Nelson, known as JerryRigEverything, after dust jammed its folding mechanism and a bending test permanently damaged the inner display.
In his latest video, Nelson subjected Apple’s first foldable smartphone to scratch, dust, heat and bending tests to assess how well its construction withstands physical stress.
The exterior display performed well, showing only faint scratches at level seven on the Mohs hardness scale. However, the 7.6-inch inner screen proved considerably more vulnerable.
Despite Apple’s dual ultra-thin glass construction, the flexible display began showing scratches at level two, with deeper marks possible from fingernail pressure.
Nelson praised the matte nano-texture coating for making scratches and the central crease less visible when the screen was switched on. However, he noted that the marks were permanent and became visible again when the display was off.
He also removed the protective coating from a separate iPhone Duo, revealing a noticeably glossier screen with more vibrant colours but substantially greater reflections.
Unbelievable! The iPhone Duo’s display has been hiding a shocking secret! Someone finally dared to peel off the matte film covering the iPhone Duo’s display, and what they discovered was astonishing. With the film removed, the screen underneath looks surprisingly uneven, with visible bumps, ripples, and even wrinkles!
— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) October 22, 2026
Dust jams hinge before bending test destroys screen
The most serious problems emerged during the dust resistance test.
Although Apple advertises an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, Nelson found that particles could enter the folding mechanism and prevent the phone from closing completely.
The debris appeared to accumulate inside the titanium hinge, leaving the device stuck in a partially open position.
During the subsequent bending test, the phone’s frame initially remained intact, but a permanent green line appeared across the inner display.
A second attempt caused additional lines to develop, eventually leaving the folding screen unresponsive.
«The iPhone Duo does not survive my durability test,» Nelson concluded.
He suggested that the damage could have resulted from dust trapped inside the hinge or insufficient rigidity in the folding mechanism, although he did not establish the precise cause.
According to Nelson, replacing the damaged inner display would cost approximately $1,000, while replacing its outer protective layer would cost $49.
The results follow complaints from early iPhone Duo customers who reported bright lines and screen damage around the hinge shortly after purchasing the device.
