Apple has acknowledged display problems affecting a small number of its iPhone Duo foldable smartphones and has advised affected customers to contact the company for replacement devices.
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The issue emerged just days after the highly anticipated handset went on sale, with some users posting photographs on social media showing lines across their screens and cracks along the central crease.
The iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable smartphone, starts at £1,999 in the United Kingdom, equivalent to approximately $2,668, making it one of the company’s most expensive consumer devices.
Apple said it was aware of an issue affecting the inner display on a small number of handsets and urged customers experiencing the problem to contact the company for assistance and a replacement.
iPhone Duo Users Report Screen Cracks and Display Lines
Several users have shared images online showing apparent defects in the foldable phone’s display. Reported problems include lines appearing across parts of the screen and cracks developing along the central folding crease.
Other users have reportedly described hearing a crunching noise when opening the device.
One owner, Justin Lokos, posted an image showing lines across the right side of his handset’s display. He later shared a photograph of a replacement device alongside the faulty phone, thanking an Apple store in New York for its assistance.
However, the full extent of the problem remains unclear. Apple has not disclosed how many devices have been affected.
Questions have also been raised about the authenticity of some photographs circulating online, with reports suggesting that certain images may have been generated using artificial intelligence.
Francisco Jeronimo, a technology analyst at market research firm IDC, said caution was necessary before drawing conclusions about the wider production run based on early reports.
He added that the initial problems highlighted the challenges Apple faces in developing foldable devices, even with its engineering expertise and established supply chain.
Complex Foldable Display Raises Concerns
The iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch (19.3-centimetre) inner display connected by a central hinge. The folding mechanism is a complex component that must withstand repeated opening and closing while protecting the screen.
Other smartphone manufacturers have encountered similar difficulties with foldable devices.
Samsung’s first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, faced problems in 2019 after reviewers reported broken screens on early devices.
Although Android manufacturers have offered foldable phones for years, Apple spent an extended period developing its own design before introducing the Duo.
The company has positioned the handset as a premium alternative to existing foldable smartphones.
Apple Faces Challenge in Maintaining Buyer Confidence
The iPhone Duo costs up to £3,199 for its highest-specification models, placing it at the top end of the smartphone market.
Jeronimo said Apple’s response to the early display problems could influence consumer confidence in the company’s first-generation foldable device.
He noted that Apple’s established customer base and retail network could help it replace faulty handsets quickly. However, he said the company needed to clarify its warranty position as the phone prepared to launch in another 28 markets on October 30.
The speed and clarity of Apple’s response may therefore be important in addressing customer concerns and protecting the product’s reputation.
Apple’s First Major iPhone Redesign in Years
The iPhone Duo represents a major change in the iPhone’s design since the product line was introduced nearly two decades ago.
The handset was unveiled by Apple’s new chief executive, John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook in September.
When closed, the Duo resembles a wider iPhone. When opened, it expands into a device with a display similar in size to a small tablet.
Ternus presented the device as a new approach to foldable smartphones, saying at its unveiling that Apple aimed to redefine the experience of using a folding phone.
The reported screen defects now present an early challenge for the company as it seeks to establish itself in the foldable smartphone market.
Note: Apple has acknowledged a display issue affecting a small number of devices, but the total number of affected handsets and the broader scale of the problem have not been confirmed.
