Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale on Friday and has since drawn reports of inner display cracks from some early buyers. Several users reported hearing a crunching sound or feeling unusual resistance when unfolding the phone, followed by cracks or display malfunctions along the center crease.
Apple acknowledges iPhone Duo display issue
In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple acknowledged the issue and advised affected users to contact AppleCare for a replacement. The company also highlighted the response from early buyers and developers updating their apps for the foldable design.
Apple said:
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.
Reports of cracked inner displays
Reports of the issue surfaced on Reddit and other social media platforms over the weekend. Bloomberg independently verified the problem with more than half a dozen customers, who provided photographs of damaged devices or evidence of their support conversations with Apple.
Affected owners described several symptoms:
- Cracks along the crease: Some reported cracks forming along the center of the inner display when unfolding the phone.
- Unusual sounds and resistance: Some heard a crunching or cracking sound, while others noticed that the hinge had become unusually tight or difficult to open.
- Display malfunctions: Reports included bright vertical or horizontal lines, white patches and screens that became unusable.
- No visible external damage: Some owners said their phones had not been dropped or subjected to unusual pressure and showed no visible damage to the exterior.
In several cases, the damage appeared within hours or days of purchase. One customer told Bloomberg that the inner display had become unusable, while another said the crack expanded after repeated folding. Replacement experiences varied, too: Bloomberg reported that one owner in Chennai, India, found a replacement at an authorized reseller, while other customers had to wait or arrange shipment through Apple.
iFixit investigates possible causes
The reports have raised questions about what might be causing the damage. In its recent iPhone Duo teardown, iFixit examined the hinge structure and compared its observations with the locations where users reported screen cracks. Although Apple has not confirmed the cause, the repair specialist suggested that a mechanical fault could be putting pressure on the inner display.
Its analysis identified a few potential areas of concern:
- Central support bar: It may fail to retract fully as the phone closes, potentially pressing against the display and creating a local stress point.
- Center pivot: This component differs in appearance from the other pivots and could be sticking, although iFixit has not confirmed a fault.
- Other hinge components: Nearby curved rails and moving parts could also contribute to the reported damage.
iFixit developed these explanations using its teardown observations, Apple’s patents and CT scans of the hinge. However, they remain hypotheses, and the investigation has not established which component, if any, is responsible for the reported screen cracks.
What’s next?
Apple has advised owners experiencing inner display problems to contact AppleCare for a replacement. The company has not disclosed the exact number of affected devices or confirmed a root cause. It has said that most iPhone Duo units are unaffected and that the issue appears relatively quickly in devices that experience it. Further guidance from Apple could clarify whether the reports point to a specific hardware fault.