Some iPhone Duo screens failing within days of launch

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 19:39 · Archive

Some owners of Apple's new $1,999 iPhone Duo foldable phone are reporting the inner display cracking within hours or days of use.

Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, launched on Friday priced at $1,999 and up. Within days, some early buyers began reporting that the inner display was cracking or malfunctioning.

The reported damage appears consistent across affected devices. Owners describe seeing bright lines originating near the phone's hinge and extending to the bottom and right edges of the inner screen. Some units also show lines of dead pixels following the crease. Many users report hearing a cracking sound when unfolding the device. One user in Australia reported that their phone cracked within six hours of purchase, posting on Reddit: 'As I continued opening it, I heard an audible crack, and the screen broke right along the hinge.'

Apple confirmed the issue on Monday. 'We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units,' an Apple representative told CNBC. 'If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement.' The company's website shows that out-of-warranty repairs for the inner screen cost $999—half the price of the entire device.

Most reports of failures come from anonymous customers on online forums including Reddit and social media platforms. Some customers have successfully obtained replacements at Apple stores, though spares may be in short supply.

Device repair firm iFixit, after tearing down the device and testing it, theorised the problems may stem from Apple's hinge design. 'Many of these damage reports describe folding or unfolding the phone, hearing a crunch, and pushing past it,' said iFixit technician Shahram Mokhtari. 'Right where the damage is happening, the hinge is shaped a little differently.' iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens noted on social media that 'The hinge is actually dozens of parts, with ludicrous precision.'

Some units have failed within hours of use, though most affected devices appear to fail within about a day. A few owners report the phone cracking after opening and closing it only a few times, with some saying they had not completed initial setup.

Hinge problems are not uncommon with foldable phones, but their appearance so soon after launch is unusual. Engadget reported that its review unit and a device obtained by CNET were not affected. The CNET unit successfully completed more than 55,000 folds during testing.

Apple has not released details about the number of affected devices or the root cause of the failures. The Guardian noted that experts said too few examples had emerged so far to determine whether there was a broader manufacturing problem with the device.

How it is being reported

• Uh oh, it sounds like the iPhone Duo keeps cracking and users aren’t happy about itA small number of early adopters of the much hyped new foldable phone from Apple have complained of screens cracking.TechCrunch · 26 Oct, 19:22
• iPhone Duo owners report cracks in Apple’s first foldable handsetCompany says small number of devices affected by display glitch after posts appear on Reddit and social media Owners of the new foldable iPhone are reporting cracks in the device’s screen, as Apple confirmed an issue with a “small number” of units. Reports of cracks have emerged on Reddit and social media platforms since the handset went on general sale globally on Friday. Experts said there had been too few examples to determine whether therewas a more serious problem with Apple’s first foldable device, which retails from $1,999 (£1,499). Continue reading...Guardian Business · 26 Oct, 19:15
• Apple responds to reports of the iPhone Duo's inner display crackingImpacted users can contact AppleCare for a replacement.Engadget · 26 Oct, 18:52
• Apple responds to user reports of broken iPhone Duo screens on new foldable phoneApple on Monday said it was aware of the issue and that it would replace the devices under its AppleCare warranty.CNBC · 26 Oct, 18:43
• Some iPhone Duo screens are already failingApple's "precision-engineered" hinge is apparently damaging some iPhone Duo screens.Ars Technica · 26 Oct, 16:51

In this story: Apple · iPhone Duo · AppleCare · iFixit · CNET · Engadget · Australia

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem