Apple to replace iPhone Duo units with cracked screens

Apple ↗ 0.93% has said it will replace iPhone Duo handsets whose inner screens cracked or developed lines near the hinge, days after its first foldable phone went on sale. On Monday, October 26, the company said it was aware of "an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units" and told affected users to "contact AppleCare for a replacement," Reuters reported. Apple did not say what causes the problem or how many phones are affected.reuters.com+1

The $1,999 device went on sale October 23. Some buyers said its 7.6-inch inner display cracked along the fold within hours of unboxing. The problem is an early test of John Ternus, who became CEO on September 1 and launched the Duo as his first major product.fortune.com

What owners report

Photos posted online show cracks along the center crease. Many also show a bright line running to the right side of the screen. Some owners described a crunching noise when they opened the phone (BBC; The Verge). One owner in Australia said his phone cracked after about six hours and fewer than 20 openings. It is still unclear how widespread the problem is. The BBC noted that some images circulating online may have been made with AI.bbc.com+2

An Apple spokesperson said most units are not affected and that faulty units show the problem quickly. Owners don't need AppleCare+ to get a replacement. However, the phone is in short supply, so some customers are waiting for new units. Once the warranty ends, repairing the inner display costs $999 without AppleCare+.theverge.com+2

iFixit's hinge theory

The repair firm iFixit used teardown footage, patents and CT scans to build a 3D simulation of the hinge. It found that the reported damage clusters just below where a display cable runs under the screen, near a central support bar. That bar may not be moving out of the screen's way as the phone folds, "creating a small stress hotspot near the reported break location," iFixit said. iFixit also said pressure, a trapped particle, repeated bending or a manufacturing defect could be to blame, and that more investigation is needed. Apple has not commented on the findings.reuters.com+1

Stakes for the launch

Apple shares fell 1.1% on Monday and slipped again in premarket trading Tuesday. Analysts compared the situation to the screen failures on Samsung's original Galaxy Fold in 2019. IDC's Francisco Jeronimo called Apple's replacement offer the "right first step" and said "a fast and transparent response can contain the damage to a category". He added that with "a further 28 markets launching on 30 October," Apple "needs to clarify its warranty position quickly".bbc.com+2