iPhone Duo repair costs revealed

Apple published on Wednesday, October 14, the out-of-warranty repair prices for the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone. The information was posted on its support page, giving customers an idea of the expenses they might face if their device breaks.

Internal screen replacement is costly

In France, replacing the internal screen of the iPhone Duo, the one that folds, costs 1,149 euros if the customer has not subscribed to AppleCare+, Apple's insurance for breakage and theft. This price is nearly the same as the cost of a new iPhone 17, which is sold for 1,119 euros.

External screen and other parts are cheaper

Apple charges 489 euros for the external screen and 219 euros for the glass back in France. The battery and the rear camera each cost 269 euros. A complete phone replacement due to "other damages" would cost 1,719 euros, which is 240 euros more than a new iPhone 18 Pro.

Protective layer is the only affordable part

Apple specifies that the amounts listed are estimates and that authorized repairers can set their own prices. The protective layer on the foldable screen, a matte coating that reduces glare, is replaced separately and costs 55 euros, the only reasonable price in the range.

Repair costs are a significant portion of the phone's price

The iPhone Duo is sold in France between 2,339 and 3,839 euros, depending on its four storage capacities. On the base model, the internal screen represents 49 percent of the purchase price, and a complete replacement would cost 73 percent of the original price.

AppleCare+ insurance reduces costs significantly

A broken foldable screen would cover five years of AppleCare+ insurance, which costs 20.99 euros per month or 209.99 euros per year. With the insurance, the replacement of the internal screen drops to 99 euros, and the protective layer costs 19 euros.

Insurance is cost-effective for some repairs

With AppleCare+, the deductible in case of loss or theft is 129 euros. A broken internal screen saves 1,050 euros with the insurance, which pays for five years of annual subscription. A broken external screen saves 460 euros, which is more than two years of AppleCare+.

Insurance is worth considering for two years

If you plan to keep your Duo for two years, taking the insurance is recommended. A single broken screen is enough to make it worthwhile, as the savings cover the cost of the subscription.

Apple is late to the foldable market

Apple is late to the foldable market, seven years after the first Galaxy Fold, and faces well-established competitors such as the Xiaomi 18 Fold. Nevertheless, the Duo is already boosting sales of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Critics call the Duo overpriced

The price of the Duo is annoying even among the competition. Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing and co-founder of OnePlus, called it a "waste of money" in a short YouTube video, criticizing it for being more expensive than an iPhone Pro while doing less.

Duo lacks some features of higher-end models

The Duo has no telephoto lens or Face ID, and its front camera is worse than that of the iPhone 18 Pro. These are some of the compromises Apple made on this first model. Despite these criticisms, the demand for the Duo seems strong.

Pre-orders open soon for the Duo

Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo open on Friday, October 16, for a release on October 23. Despite the criticisms and high costs, the device appears to be generating significant interest among potential buyers.