People with broken $2,000 iPhones say there’s unusual physical resistance and sometimes even a clicking sound as the device closes. After that, the lines appear. Using CT scans of the phone, iFixit has shown that the point of failure starts below where the ribbon cable passes through the hinge. The width of the supporting hinge mechanism changes in that spot, suggesting a mechanical misalignment.

A possible explanation for iPhone Duo failures.

A possible explanation for iPhone Duo failures.

The animation above shows iFixit’s best guess at what’s happening. The support bar in that narrowed section of the hinge may be getting stuck, preventing it from dropping far enough to accommodate the waterdrop bend in the OLED panel when the device closes. This creates stress on the display that ultimately damages the matrix. YouTuber CuriousHagi also zeroed in on that region, identifying a place where the thinner link may be snapping during operation.…