Apple has acknowledged that a small number of iPhone Duo units are developing cracks in the inner display, only days after the foldable phone went on sale. The company says owners who run into the iPhone Duo display problem should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
The complaints surfaced within the first three days of availability. Ars Technica was among the outlets documenting reports of screens breaking along the hinge. Apple has not said how many units are affected.
What Apple said about the iPhone Duo display issue
Apple sent a statement to Engadget in response to the reports, and the outlet updated its story with the full text on October 26. It opens on a positive note: “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.”
The company then turns to the defect. “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.”
The statement gives no figure for affected units. It also does not explain what is causing the damage.
A hinge part is the suspected cause
On October 24, designer Mike Rundle wrote on X that he had seen seven photos on the platform and multiple TikTok videos showing the same damage. In his view, a defective part in the hinge puts pressure on the screen and causes it to break in an identical pattern each time. His post, published two days before Apple’s full statement, ended by asking followers what was going on.
The cracked iPhone Duo display shows a series of bright lines along its midpoint when the phone is unfolded. Some owners also report dead pixels along the crease. According to Engadget, the defect tends to appear soon after a user starts folding the phone. As a result, units that get through their first few days without trouble are less likely to be affected.
Review units held up
Engadget says its own review unit has not shown the problem. CNET also reported no damage on its iPhone Duo, which it has been putting through a hinge durability test. At the time of Engadget’s report, that unit had passed 55,000 folds.
Hinge and screen faults are a known risk with folding phones. Samsung delayed the original Galaxy Fold in 2019 after several review units suffered display failures within days of use. Still, Engadget notes that such problems rarely show up this close to a product’s launch.
For now, Apple’s guidance is the same for every affected owner. Anyone whose iPhone Duo display shows lines, dead pixels or cracks along the hinge should contact AppleCare and request a replacement unit.