Apple has acknowledged that a small number of its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, have developed problems with their inner displays, barely weeks after the device reached customers. Affected owners can request a replacement through AppleCare, though the company has not yet explained what is causing the failures.
The iPhone Duo launched on October 23 with a starting price of $1,999. Within hours of release, complaints began appearing online from buyers who said their new phones had cracked along the folding display. Several reports describe damage appearing in nearly the same location, and some owners said the phones made unusual noises before the screens failed. Others reported bright white lines spreading across the display. In several cases, a line of damaged pixels extended from the fold toward the right side of the screen.
Owners have shared photos of the damage on Reddit and described how quickly their phones failed. One user said the screen cracked before setup was complete, after only a few openings and closings. Another reported a failure within six hours and received a replacement from Apple. A third said the display failed after about three hours, and that an Apple Store turned the owner away before the phone was ultimately returned through Verizon. Reddit moderators checked additional photos and Apple paperwork provided by one owner and confirmed the damaged phone and its replacement were genuine. All of the owners described problems appearing after very little use. Their accounts do not indicate how widespread the issue is.
On October 26, Apple acknowledged the reports. In a statement provided to news outlets, the company said: « We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. » Apple has instructed affected owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement. An AppleCare+ subscription is not required to request help for the acknowledged defect, although accidental damage and unrelated screen repairs may fall under different coverage terms.
The device opens to reveal a 7.6-inch display, and when closed it looks like a compact smartphone with a 5.4-inch outer display. Apple had spent years developing the phone, which generated considerable excitement when it was introduced in September. Apple has not disclosed how many devices are affected, and it is not known whether the problem stems from a manufacturing defect affecting certain units or from the broader design. Apple did not respond to a request for additional comment before publication.
Repair specialists at iFixit examined the iPhone Duo and used CT scans to look at its hinge. They found that a small support bar may not move far enough out of the way when the phone folds, which could allow the display to press against it and crack. iFixit has not confirmed that this caused the reported damage, and Apple has not explained the failures. Still, several of the cracks appear near the hinge, where the phone folds, raising questions about how the hinge and flexible screen work together.
iFixit gave the iPhone Duo a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10, rating it more repairable than other foldable phones it has tested. However, the group reported that an out-of-warranty inner-screen repair costs $999, roughly half the phone's starting price. For owners worried about their devices, the company's guidance is to pay attention to how the hinge feels when opening and closing the phone, to avoid forcing it open or closed, and to contact AppleCare if the screen shows cracks or unusual lines.