Apple says it will replace iPhone Duo units showing screen problems

Days after introducing its inaugural folding iPhone, Apple announced on Monday that certain models of the iPhone Duo are experiencing display issues and will be replaced free of charge. The iPhone Duo, which unfolds like a passport, started shipping last week and quickly sold out online due to limited inventory. Analysts suggest Apple may face supply constraints as the foldable design is intricate to manufacture.

Social media posts over the weekend revealed the iPhone Duo with cracks and lines in the inner display near the central hinge where folding occurs. Apple confirmed on Monday that affected units typically display the problem promptly and urged users experiencing display issues to contact AppleCare for a replacement. The company did not disclose the cause of the issue. iFixit, a company that releases teardown reports and repair guides for electronic devices, analyzed the iPhone Duo's hinge using teardown footage, patents, and CT scans.

They found the reported damage concentrated just below where the display cable runs under the screen near a central support bar. This area may fail to move out of the screen's way as the phone folds, creating a stress hotspot near the break location, according to iFixit. Apple has not yet responded to iFixit's findings, which also concluded that the iPhone Duo boasts the highest repairability among foldable phones tested by the company.

Francisco Jeronimo, a vice president at market research firm IDC, deemed Apple's prompt replacement offer as the correct initial step to address the concerns. Jeronimo noted that Samsung faced similar issues with its first Galaxy Fold in 2019, but a swift and transparent response helped contain the damage to a specific category.