The key facts

  • Apple acknowledged an internal display issue in a small number of iPhone Duo units and is offering replacements
  • Users report stripes, cracks along the central fold and a crunching sound when opening the phone
  • The scale of the problem is unknown; some published photos may have been AI-generated

Apple acknowledges display problem

Just days after the launch of Apple's first foldable smartphone — the iPhone Duo — the company said it would replace devices with screen defects. Apple stated it was aware of an issue affecting the internal display of a small number of devices and urged affected users to request a replacement. This was reported by BBC News.

What owners are reporting

Photos of stripes on the device's screens are circulating on social media; its starting price in the UK is £1,999 ($2,668). Some owners are posting images of cracks along the central fold of the screen, while others report a crunching sound when opening the smartphone. One owner, Justin Lokos, posted a photo showing stripes on the right side of the display, and later a picture of the faulty phone lying next to a new one, thanking the Apple store in New York for its help.

The scale of the problem is unclear

Apple is not disclosing exactly how many devices are affected. According to Daryo.uz, some of the photos of defective phones published online may have been generated by artificial intelligence, so the real scale of the defect remains uncertain. The Duo's internal 7.6-inch display is held on a central hinge — a complex engineering component that has previously been a source of defects for competitors as well: the first foldable Samsung Galaxy Fold in 2019 encountered reports of breaking screens as early as the review stage.

Launch context

Sales of the Duo began last week and were accompanied by queues at Apple stores around the world — it is the company's first foldable device, intended to refresh the lineup and compete with foldable phones from other manufacturers. According to Daryo.uz, when unfolded the device has a 7.6-inch internal Super Retina XDR display, and when folded a 5.4-inch external one; the body is made of Grade 5 titanium with Ceramic Shield glass and IP68 protection. The price announced at the September presentation started at $1,999, with 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB versions available.

An image of an iPhone Duo with a faulty screen lines across the right side of the folding screen.Image source, Justin Lokos/X
Image caption,

One user said Apple had helped him to replace his faulty Duo unit

A person looks closely at the new iPhone Duo on display at a launch event in Cupertino, California on Wednesday.A picture of Zoe's folding phone beginning to break