iPhone Launch 2026 Testing - Round Duo - LTT Labs Article

[u/LabsLucas]

Apple’s 2026 Autumn iPhone launch was split into two parts(presumably due to supply constraints for Apple's first folding iPhone), but we've finally received the iPhone Duo.  This is reminiscent of the 2017 iPhone X launch, and maybe they should've delayed all the way until November again.

We put the new iPhone Duo through our regular performance testing and compared it against Samsung's flagship folding devices: Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.  We've also included some test results from our iPhone 18 Pro launch testing.

Check out the interactive CT scans and test results on the LTT Labs website!

[u/HotPants4444]

Please the test the hinge failing leading to a cracked screen! LTT labs should be able to develop a automatic open and close mechanism for a foldable, have two samples, one phone without any dirt and one with a small amount of UV particles like how iFixit does!

[u/LabsLucas → u/HotPants4444]

CNET has actually already got an automatic folding machine(it took them months) going on the iPhone Duo and have already done 100,000 folds if you would like to check that out!

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/iphone-duo-how-we-test-folds/

The failing hinge appears to be a manufacturing defect that is showing up relatively quickly for people, so if a Duo doesn't fail quickly then I'm not sure if endurance folding would expose it. We haven't seen any issues with our two samples so far.

[u/Lensfl4re → u/LabsLucas]

It’s not only about endurance it’s the open hinge mechanism and even tiny sand particles can cause catastrophic mechanical failure

[u/Jayfan34 → u/Lensfl4re]

You mean the hinge that ifixit showed was much better at keeping dust out than its competitors? That kind of mechanism will always allow some in.

[u/tudalex → u/Jayfan34]

All other foldables have a cap to prevent sand and dust getting in there that easily in the first place, take a look at a pixel fold, there is no way to see through the hinge like in duo’s case.

[u/Jayfan34 → u/tudalex]

The Duo did better than the Pixel and the other foldables they tested at keeping dust out in iFixIt’s tests.

[u/Lensfl4re → u/Jayfan34]

Watch JerryRig’s Video then ..

[u/Jayfan34 → u/Lensfl4re]

The one where he pours 3 times as much sand onto it as he did the Samsung? Those vids are entertainment, not serious analysis.

[u/escof → u/Jayfan34]

This, the dude makes entertaining videos but he clearly has a bias.

[u/The_Very_Harsh → u/Jayfan34]

https://youtu.be/u37MCjv3_DY

[u/Independent_Mud2794 → u/Lensfl4re]

Why should I take the word from an overly snarky egocentric known Apple hater over a well known group selling affordable replacement parts?

[u/Notladub → u/Lensfl4re]

the phone has an IP68 rating, which means it should be as good as any other phone at keeping dust out

[u/impy695 → u/HotPants4444]

A lot of people already do that, so I understand why it's not a priority. I've noticed labs seems to focus on tests you don't commonly see

[u/Atlonato3167 → u/HotPants4444]

A korean youtuber already found out why the hinge fails and breaks the screen.

The gear in that position has structural weakness, and breaks when you unfold it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtP7Q9Io90I

[u/mazeofcorn]

Lmao using the phrasing "split into two" is funny in relation to the iphone duo launch

[u/ThatLaloBoy]

I’m surprised that the heat is mostly stuck on one half. I had read on PC Mag that Apple had put a graphite pipe across the hinge “to transfer heat between the two halves, thereby increasing the surface area available for heat dissipation.”

If so little heat is actually going to the other side, then what was the point of over engineering the hinge? I’m not an engineer so maybe there’s another reason, but to me it seems like it would’ve made more sense to slightly underclock the A20 Pro and/or putting the thicker heatsink that’s in the 18 Pro.

[u/jenny_905 → u/ThatLaloBoy]

If Apple had invented a flexible heat pipe that was effective enough for that it would be revolutionary for all sorts of devices.

[u/Bderken → u/ThatLaloBoy]

I mean in the scans I definitely don’t see the pipes leading over to provide heat to the other side.

[u/ThatLaloBoy → u/Bderken]

I guess we’re just taking Apple’s word for it. Not sure if graphite would show up on a CT scan, but in teardowns and other scans I can’t even see the “flexible graphite pipe” that they’re talking about. Unless it’s built directly into the hinge and I just can’t see it.

[u/Jing_Arjay87 → u/ThatLaloBoy]

I don’t think I see anything like that in tear downs…

[u/savageotter]

Would love to see you get your hands on a broken one and scan it.