Apple has acknowledged a display problem affecting a small number of its new foldable iPhone Duo handsets, as owners reported cracks in the device's screen after the phone went on general sale globally on Friday. The company said users experiencing issues with the inner display should contact AppleCare for a replacement. Reports of the cracks have surfaced on Reddit and social media platforms since the launch, with users describing sudden screen malfunctions appearing as white strips of light or audible cracking sounds when opening the device.
One user in Australia reported that their Duo cracked within six hours of purchase. They described feeling something around the internal hinge as they opened the phone and hearing an audible crack as the screen broke along the hinge. Another Australian user reported hearing a similar cracking noise that caused comparable screen malfunction. A report by the Bloomberg news service highlighted similar issues among users in the US and India. Apple said it believed the affected units were showing defects quickly after use.
Technology experts cautioned against drawing conclusions from the early reports. Francisco Jeronimo, vice-president of data and analytics at IDC, a tech research company, said it was too early to determine whether the issue was significant. He noted that similar problems had occurred with Samsung's original Galaxy Fold in 2019, but that a fast and transparent response could contain damage to the category. Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS, said he was taking a cautious view and that there was no evidence yet of a more widespread issue with the device.
Apple said demand for the iPhone Duo, which retails from $1,999 (£1,499), had been 'nothing short of extraordinary'. The handset has sold out, and the next round of shipments is not expected until January, according to a report in the Economic Daily. The Duo is the most high-profile product launch under Apple's new chief executive, John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook in September.
For UK consumers, display problems with an expensive new foldable phone could affect their confidence in purchasing premium devices from Apple or other manufacturers until the scale of any issue becomes clearer.