After reports of cracked inner screens on early iPhone Duo units, Apple says a small number of devices are affected and tells owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Apple has acknowledged a problem with the inner display of its new foldable iPhone Duo after early owners reported cracked screens. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, 9to5Mac and The Verge, the company said it is aware of "an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units" and that affected users should contact AppleCare for a replacement. Apple also said the early response to the device has been very positive.
According to reports cited by TechCrunch and The Verge, some owners described a loud crunching sound or a tightening hinge when opening the phone, followed by a crack or a bright line running from the centre of the screen towards the right side. Bloomberg reported that screens failed after just hours or days of use, while 404 Media described pronounced creases on the roughly $2,000 device. One user in Australia said an Apple Store replaced the phone on the spot.
Apple spokesperson Alex Kirschner told The Verge that most units are not susceptible and that the problem appears quickly on units that have the defect. Separately, iFixit's teardown, published over the weekend, suggested that in damaged phones the foldable screen may be pressing against a central bar. The cause has not been confirmed by Apple, and it is not known how many units are affected beyond the company's description of a small number.
