NAIROBI, Kenya – Apple has offered replacement handsets to customers whose new iPhone Duo devices develop inner-screen problems, following reports of cracks and bright lines appearing on the foldable phone just days after its launch.
The technology company acknowledged the issue on Monday, October 26, saying it affected a small number of devices and advising customers experiencing display problems to contact AppleCare for replacements.
The announcement comes barely days after the iPhone Duo went on sale, marking Apple’s first entry into the foldable smartphone market after years of development.
Images shared on social media appear to show vertical lines across sections of the inner display, while other users have reported cracks around the central crease. Some owners have also described unusual crunching sounds when opening their handsets.
The reports have raised early questions about the durability of Apple’s most expensive iPhone, although the available evidence does not establish how widespread the problem is.
Apple has not disclosed the number of affected units or identified the cause of the display faults.
Early Reports Put Foldable Design Under Scrutiny
The iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch inner display that folds around a central hinge, allowing the handset to open into a device resembling a small tablet.
The hinge and folding screen are central to the phone’s design, but they also introduce mechanical and display challenges that conventional smartphones do not face in the same way.
Repair specialist iFixit examined the device and used teardown footage, patents and CT scans to model its hinge mechanism. Its analysis suggested that a central support bar could be creating a pressure point near the reported damage area when the phone folds.
Apple has not confirmed that explanation, and the available reports are insufficient to establish whether the problem stems from the design, manufacturing inconsistencies or another factor.
Technology analysts have also cautioned against drawing broad conclusions from a limited number of reported cases.
Francisco Jeronimo of market research firm IDC said the early reports highlighted the technical challenges Apple faces as it enters a product category where rival manufacturers have years of experience.
Apple Faces an Early Test of Buyer Confidence
The iPhone Duo launched to strong interest, with crowds gathering at Apple stores and initial online orders reportedly selling out quickly.
Priced from £1,999 in the UK, the device represents a major attempt by Apple to expand the iPhone range and compete with established foldable handsets from manufacturers including Samsung.
Apple’s response to the reported defects could become an important early test of how it handles customer concerns surrounding the new product category.
The company has directed affected customers to AppleCare for replacements, but it has yet to provide a detailed public explanation of the fault or indicate whether additional measures will be introduced.
The timing also recalls the problems faced by Samsung when its first Galaxy Fold encountered screen failures in 2019, prompting scrutiny of the durability of early foldable phones.
For now, the extent of the iPhone Duo problem remains uncertain. Whether the reported cases represent isolated defects or point to a broader manufacturing or design issue will depend on further evidence as more devices reach customers.
