Apple has acknowledged that a small number of its new iPhone Duo foldable phones have developed screen problems just days after the handset went on sale, and is urging affected customers to contact the company for a replacement.
Photos shared on social media show lines appearing across the inner display of the £1,999 ($2,668) device, Apple's first foldable and an attempt to reinvigorate its lineup against rivals that have sold folding phones for years. Other users posted images of cracks along the screen's center crease and described a crunching noise when opening the device. One owner, Justin Lokos, posted a photo of a faulty unit alongside a replacement he said an Apple store in New York helped him obtain.
How widespread is the problem?
Apple has not said how many devices are affected, and the company noted that some images circulating online showing damaged units may have been generated with AI, muddying the picture. Francisco Jeronimo, a technology analyst at IDC, said that uncertainty means caution is warranted before drawing conclusions about the entire production run, though he added the early reports show "that even a company with Apple's engineering resources and supply chain discipline faces a steep learning curve in foldables."
The Duo's 7.6-inch inner display is held together by a central hinge, a piece of engineering that has produced similar early flaws in folding phones from several of Apple's competitors. Samsung's first foldable, the Galaxy Fold, suffered a comparable setback in 2019 when early reviewers reported broken screens before the phone's official release was delayed for redesign.
Apple spent years developing foldable technology before bringing the Duo to market, entering a category where Android manufacturers already offer a wide range of options. The company's statement acknowledging the screen issue did not address whether a hardware fix is planned for future units, or whether the problem is limited to a specific batch.