Apple has agreed to replace some units of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, after customers reported cracks and lines appearing on the inner display days after the device went on sale.
The company acknowledged the problem on Monday, saying a small number of devices had been affected and advising customers experiencing display issues to contact AppleCare for a replacement.
“We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units,” Apple said in a statement. “If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement.”
The development comes barely days after Apple began shipping the foldable iPhone, which launched last week and went on sale in stores on October 23. The device attracted strong initial demand, with online orders selling out within minutes and customers queuing at Apple stores as supplies remained limited.
Reports of the display problems emerged over the weekend, when social media posts showed cracks and visible lines along the central hinge area of the phone’s inner screen. The damage appeared around the point where the device folds, raising questions about the durability of Apple’s first entry into the foldable smartphone market.
Apple has not disclosed what caused the problem, how many units are affected or whether the issue could lead to a broader replacement programme.
An investigation by electronics repair firm iFixit offered a possible explanation for the reported damage. Using teardown footage, patents and computed tomography scans, the company constructed a three-dimensional simulation of the iPhone Duo’s hinge mechanism to examine the locations where the screen damage had been reported.
According to iFixit, the reported damage appeared to cluster just below the point where a display cable runs beneath the screen near a central support bar.
The firm suggested that the support bar might not move out of the screen’s way properly when the phone is folded, potentially creating a concentrated point of stress that could contribute to the damage.
Apple did not immediately comment on iFixit’s findings.
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Despite identifying the potential weakness, iFixit described the iPhone Duo as the most repairable foldable phone it had tested, suggesting that the device could be easier to service than some competing models.
The display issue presents an early challenge for Apple as it seeks to establish itself in the foldable smartphone market, where complex hinge mechanisms and flexible screens have posed manufacturing and durability challenges.
Analysts have warned that the iPhone Duo’s complicated design could also limit production, contributing to supply constraints as the company attempts to meet demand following its launch.
Francisco Jeronimo, a vice president at market research firm IDC, described Apple’s replacement offer as the appropriate first step in managing the situation.
“We all remember when Samsung experienced problems with the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, but it also showed that a fast and transparent response can contain the damage to a category,” Jeronimo said.
Samsung faced significant problems with its first Galaxy Fold in 2019 after reviewers reported screen failures before the device’s planned wider release. The company postponed the launch to address the issues, making durability a central concern in the development of foldable smartphones.
Apple’s response will be closely watched as customers assess the reliability of its new device. The company has yet to explain the cause of the reported failures or indicate whether further action beyond replacing affected units will be necessary.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
