Apple to replace iPhone Duo units with cracked inner screens

Apple says a small number of its first foldable phones have faulty inner displays and will swap them through AppleCare, even without a paid plan, as a teardown group points to a hinge-area stress point as the likely cause.

Apple began shipping its first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, only last week, and the device drew intense demand. Online stock disappeared within minutes, and buyers in several countries queued outside stores for limited supplies. Within days, however, some early owners reported that the inner screen of their handsets had cracked, prompting the company to promise replacements.

Over the weekend, photos and complaints appeared on social media showing damage to the foldable’s inner display. Cracks and lines were mostly concentrated along the central hinge, where the phone bends. In many cases, the damage reportedly appeared soon after the owners first opened and used the device.

On Monday, Apple acknowledged the problem. “We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units,” the company said in a statement. It stressed that only a limited batch of phones is affected. Analysts had already warned of supply shortages because the device is difficult to manufacture, and the display trouble adds to that pressure.

Apple has not said what is behind the failures. Repair specialists at iFixit, however, have offered a theory. Using teardown footage, patents and CT scans, the group built a 3D simulation of the hinge and found that damage clusters just below a display cable, close to a central support bar inside the mechanism. This bar is meant to move out of the way when the phone folds. If it does not, it presses on the panel, creating a “stress hotspot” that can crack the screen from within. Despite the flaw, iFixit still rated the iPhone Duo the most repairable foldable it has tested.

How to claim a replacement

Apple has advised affected users to contact AppleCare. “If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement,” the company said. Owners do not need an active AppleCare+ plan to qualify for a swap for this manufacturing defect. Those who bought through a mobile carrier are advised to approach AppleCare directly rather than going through the carrier.

Industry observers have welcomed the response. Francisco Jeronimo, a vice president at research firm IDC, called the quick replacement offer the “right first step”, adding that a fast and transparent reaction helps limit reputational damage. He compared it with Samsung’s handling of screen failures on the original Galaxy Fold in 2019.