Apple has responded to the cracked inner displays showing up on the iPhone Duo. The company says the problem affects a small number of units and tells owners who run into it to contact AppleCare for a replacement. The foldable went on sale on October 23 and starts at $1,999.
Apple gave this statement to 9to5Mac today, after owners spent the weekend posting cracked screens on Reddit and other forums.
“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.”
Apple opens with early user and developer reaction, and the display acknowledgement comes in the last two sentences. The statement confirms the inner display is the affected part and points owners to a replacement. It gives no number for affected units and no cause.
Owners report the inner display cracking along the hinge within hours of unboxing
The reports describe the same failure each time. The inner display cracks down the center line of the hinge, and a horizontal block of pixels then glows white. An earlier report counted about ten separate cases, and a couple of owners said the screen broke before they finished setting up the phone.
Owners describe a noise when opening or closing the phone, then a line down the fold and a bright line across the display. Further reporting verified the problem with more than half a dozen owners, and every one of them felt a bump under the display close to where the crack started.
Teardowns of cracked iPhone Duo units point to the center of the hinge
Teardowns of cracked units have put the trouble near the middle of the hinge. One analysis found the breaks clustering slightly below where the display cable passes through the hinge, and a second teardown found the middle link of the hinge snapped on a cracked iPhone Duo. Neither confirms the cause.
The earlier report floated a similar idea, a defective hinge component with a piece slightly misaligned and poking up into the inner display. No one has confirmed that either.
Apple’s describes a Grade 5 titanium frame and hinge cover, a scratch-resistant coating on the inner display and IP68 water and dust resistance. The inner display uses more than 10 ultrathin layers, and optically clear adhesives let those layers glide as the screen folds.
Apple has not said what causes the cracks or whether replacements are free
Apple’s statement does not say how long a replacement takes or whether it costs anything. The earlier report found that most buyers who went back to an Apple Store got a straight device replacement. Carrier buyers had less luck because carriers did not have replacement stock on hand, and one buyer said they were told they must have dropped the phone and would have to pay for the repair.
Apple employees say an internal team is investigating, and engineers are trying to collect affected phones for analysis.
For reference, Apple’s standard inner display repair fee is $999 without AppleCare+ and $99 with it.
Our Take
Apple putting the problem in writing helps, because owners have been getting very different answers depending on the store. A replacement is the right fix for a $1,999 phone, but Apple still owes buyers a clear answer on cost and turnaround, particularly for people who bought through a carrier. If your iPhone Duo hinge feels stiff or makes a crunching sound when you open it, stop and book a visit instead of forcing it.
