iPhone Duo destruction test finds scratches, dust limits and a brighter screen without nano-texture

On a 10-point hardness scale, the inner display began showing scratches at level 2, and a fingernail could create visible grooves, according to the report. With the screen on, those scratches largely disappeared, an effect 9to5Mac compared to eggshell or satin paint hiding imperfections in buildings. Keys, coins and chainmail left marks, but the marks vanished when the display was illuminated and returned when it was turned off, the report said.

The iPhone Duo carries an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, which theoretically means it is completely dustproof. In the extreme test, dust did not necessarily enter the casing, but enough could become trapped in the hinge mechanism to stop the device from closing, according to 9to5Mac. The report advised caution when using the phone at a beach.

JerryRigEverything also removed the nano-texture layer despite Apple's warning that doing so can easily damage the display beneath it. Without the layer, the display was much more reflective, but colors appeared more vibrant; 9to5Mac described one screen as looking like a fresh AMOLED display and the other as having petroleum jelly smeared over it. The tester said he was not telling people to remove the layer and that they would probably break the display, but he thought it looked better. The crease and scratches also became more visible without the coating.

By applying a large amount of force to bend the hinge in the wrong direction, the tester damaged the screen in the same way seen with a cracking issue affecting a small number of Duos, the report said. 9to5Mac described the video as mostly fun but said the dust test was extreme and that users should be cautious on a beach and keep chainmail armor away from the device.