Apple is Investigating iPhone Duo Screen Cracking Issues

Apple acknowledged today that some iPhone Duo units have inner-display issues that will require replacement of affected devices. The company issued a statement today after several reports from early adopters on Reddit pointed out that the inner screen of their iPhone Duo had cracked after a couple of hours of use, with affected units often showing a horizontal line of white pixels.

This is obviously bad PR for a company known for its attention to detail, and that’s probably why we got such a prompt response from Apple. In its statement shared with Bloomberg and other publications, the company said that affected users should get in touch with AppleCare to get a replacement.

“The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor. We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement.”

Apple emphasized that this cracking issue should only affect a small number of units, but this still remains to be seen. In its teardown of the iPhone Duo, the experts at iFixit identified a possible cause for the issue in an area where the curved screen may come too close to the hinge’s center support bar. “The screen’s curved fold comes down onto it, creating a small stress hotspot near the reported break location,” the report explains.

iFixit ultimately gave the iPhone Duo a provisional 5/10 repairability score, which is the highest score the publication ever gave to a foldable phone. However, it’s probably too early to say if the $1,999 device may suffer from a design flaw that impacts its durability.