Apple Acknowledges Inner Screen Issues in Some iPhone Duo Phones
Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo units have an issue affecting the inner display, after owners posted reports of cracked screens online. The company…
iPhone Duo owners report cracks in the inner screen, prompting Apple to say a “small number” of its first foldable phones have a display issue. The reports surfaced on Reddit and other social media after the handset went on sale globally on Friday.
Apple says customers who experience display problems should contact AppleCare for a replacement. The company has not said how many devices are affected, leaving early buyers without a clear measure of how widespread the issue is.
Apple directs affected owners to AppleCare
“We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement,” an Apple representative told CNBC.
Owners have described damage near the hinge, including bright lines across the inner screen. One user in Australia said the display failed while opening the phone, within six hours of taking ownership. The Guardian said it could not independently verify that account. The user said an Apple store replaced the device immediately.
Another Australian user reported hearing “almost a cracking noise” before a similar screen malfunction. Bloomberg also reported comparable complaints from users in the US and India.
The claims remain early and largely come from customer posts. CNBC noted that fake images had also appeared online, making individual reports harder to assess. Apple has acknowledged a display issue, but has not provided a count or described its cause.
Hinge area draws scrutiny
Device repair firm iFixit examined the phone and raised the possibility that the hinge design could be involved. In its teardown video, technician Shahram Mokhtari said reports described people folding or unfolding the device, hearing a crunch and continuing to move it.
“Right where the damage is happening, the hinge is shaped a little differently,” Mokhtari said. iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens wrote on X that “a manufacturing variance or grain of sand can kill the fragile display panel it protects.” The comments point to possible explanations, not a confirmed cause.
The distinction matters for customers: Apple’s replacement guidance offers a route for owners whose displays fail, but the company has not said whether the problem is tied to a particular batch or use pattern. CNBC reported that an inner-screen repair for an out-of-warranty iPhone Duo costs $999.
Apple also said the response from early users had been “incredibly positive” and that developers were updating apps for the device’s larger display. The Guardian reported that the phone, priced from $1,999 (£1,499), had sold out, with the next shipments not expected until January, according to Taiwan’s Economic Daily.
Francisco Jeronimo, IDC’s vice-president of data and analytics, said it was too early to judge whether the reports signaled a significant problem. “This is quite common when a new product comes to market,” he said. Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS, said he was taking a cautious view and that there was not yet evidence of a wider issue.
Apple’s immediate direction to affected owners is to contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Source: theguardian.com
