Why you should not remove the matte film from the iPhone Duo even if Apple charges only 19 euros to change it

Everyone knows that man is the only animal that trips over the same stone twice. At Apple too. Do you remember those first Samsung Folds from which users removed the protective film? Well, due to the imminent launch of the first folding phone, the company has rushed to resolve one of the main unknowns, one that has to do with the durability of its flexible panel.

The company’s vice president of hardware engineering, Kate Bergeron, has confirmed that the top sheet with a nanotexture finish that covers the internal screen can be replaced if it suffers wear. However, despite the suggestions of some social media influencers to achieve a glossy finish, removing this component on your own can permanently render the screen unusable.

A 19 euro sheet to hide the crease and mitigate reflections

The matte coating of the internal panel fulfills two specific technical tasks. “The matte coating on the screen does an excellent job, I would say, of minimizing creases. But there’s a protective layer on top, and we’ve put a lot of engineering into making it last as long as possible and making sure you get the most out of that layer’s performance.“said Bergeron.

As you can see, the objective of this panel is to eliminate reflections in illuminated environments and to disguise (not eliminate) the central indentation of the hinge. As detailed by Bergeron, this coverage has received a specific treatment to increase its rigidity by 40% compared to usual industry standards. To resolve possible marks of use, Apple has set a price of 19 euros for its replacement.

However, there is a trick why all repair prices are so cheap. And, for the moment, the option appears exclusively linked to users subscribed to AppleCare+ coverage. So we will still have to wait to find out the cost for out-of-warranty repairs.

In any case, the core issue of everything is that the official service allows you to renew the protective film against accidental scratches without requiring you to replace the entire OLED panel, as happens with other folding devices on the market.

Why you shouldn’t peel off the film on iPhone Duo at home?

Following confirmation that the coverage is an independent piece, several influencers They have hinted that users could remove it manually to obtain a higher contrast image. However, folding panels lack the rigidity of conventional glass and are very sensitive to rough handling.

Trying to remove the protector at home can tear the underlying OLED matrix and send away a terminal with a starting price of more than 2,000 euros. Doesn’t seem like the best idea, right?

Unlike conventional adhesive protectors that are placed on the glass, it is part of the device itself and requires specific machinery that applies heat for its correct removal. For this reason, Any replacement due to deterioration should be left exclusively to Apple support. to avoid losing the official warranty.