A cracked iPhone Duo display costs anywhere from $49 to $999 to fix at Apple, depending on which part broke. The foldable has an inner display, an outer display and a replaceable cover layer, and each one is priced separately.
Owners have already reported cracked inner screens near the hinge since the phone went on sale on October 23. If yours is damaged, here is what to do and what Apple charges.
Work out which iPhone Duo display part is damaged before you book a repair
The fee depends on the part, so identify it first. The iPhone Duo has four parts that can break on the front and back.
- Cover layer is the matte nano-textured layer over the inner display. It scratches at level 2 on the Mohs scale, and the marks show up when the screen is off.
- Outer display is the 5.4-inch screen on the outside, which uses Ceramic Shield 2.
- Inner display is the 7.6-inch folding panel. Cracks along the hinge, colored lines and areas that ignore touch all point here.
- Back glass is the rear panel, and it can crack separately from either display.
Keep the iPhone Duo closed and back it up while the screen still responds
Every fold puts stress on a damaged inner display, so keep the phone closed and use the outer display until it is repaired. In a recent durability test, bending the inner screen left permanent green lines, and the screen then stopped responding to touch.
Start an iCloud backup or back up to a computer while touch still works. If glass is loose, cover the crack with clear tape so it does not cut your fingers.
Do not peel the cover layer or open the iPhone Duo yourself
The cover layer is designed to be replaced, but Apple does it for $49, or $19 with AppleCare+. In the same durability test, peeling the layer off made colors brighter, but glare came back and the tester did not recommend it.
Apple has published an iPhone Duo repair manual with 22 procedures, but it is written for technicians and lists a heated display removal fixture, a display press and a battery press in its tool list. Damage from repairs done outside Apple or its Authorized Service Provider network is not covered by the product warranty or AppleCare plans, and it can make the phone ineligible for future Apple repairs.
Take the phone to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider
Both can service the iPhone Duo, and Authorized Service Providers can set their own prices instead of Apple’s.
If the screen fails in the first days of ownership, start at an Apple Store. One owner in Australia felt the inner screen give way near the hinge about six hours after unboxing, with fewer than 20 openings, and said Apple first offered an express replacement that needed a hold for the phone’s full value. With no firm delivery estimate, they went to an Apple Store, where staff exchanged the phone for a new one on the spot. The owner reported no marks on the screen or hinge beforehand, and Apple has not confirmed a defect or a cause.
The fee list has no hinge-specific line, and the final fee is set after the phone is inspected.
iPhone Duo repair fees run from $49 for the cover layer to $999 for the inner display
These are Apple’s estimated iPhone Duo repair fees in the US, with and without AppleCare+.
| Damage | Without AppleCare+ | With AppleCare+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cover layer | $49 | $19 |
| Back glass | $199 | $29 |
| Battery service | $229 | $0 below 80% capacity |
| Rear camera | $229 | Not listed |
| Outer display | $379 | $29 |
| Outer display and back glass | $509 | Not listed |
| Inner display | $999 | $99 |
| Other damage | $1,499 | $99 |
Repairs that involve two parts get a small discount. Outer display and back glass together cost $509, which is $69 less than paying $379 and $199 separately. Tax may apply.
AppleCare+ cuts the inner display repair from $999 to $99
AppleCare+ for the iPhone Duo costs $19.99 per month, $199.99 per year or $399 upfront. With coverage, inner display damage and other accidental damage are $99 each, and theft or loss is $149.
A year of the annual plan plus the $99 repair comes to $298.99. The upfront plan plus the same repair totals $498, which is still $501 below the $999 uncovered fee.
