Apple to replace iPhone Duo units after users report screen cracks

# Apple Offers Replacements for iPhone Duo Units After Reports of Screen Cracks

Apple has acknowledged display problems affecting a small number of its newly launched iPhone Duo foldable devices and said it would replace units experiencing the issue. The announcement came just days after the company began shipping its first foldable iPhone, which has attracted strong initial demand from customers around the world.

The iPhone Duo started reaching customers last week, with buyers lining up to purchase the device after online orders reportedly sold out within minutes. However, analysts have warned that production could face constraints because the phone’s passport-style folding design is complicated to manufacture.

## Reports Point to Cracks Near the Display Crease

Apple’s announcement followed social media reports of cracks appearing near the middle of the device’s inner display, around the crease formed when the screen folds.

“We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units,” Apple said in a statement. The company advised customers experiencing display problems to contact AppleCare to arrange a replacement.

The reported damage has drawn attention to the engineering challenges involved in producing foldable smartphones, particularly the need to protect flexible displays and their supporting components through repeated folding and unfolding.

## iFixit Identifies a Possible Stress Point

A recent teardown by repair organization iFixit offered a possible explanation for the reported cracks. Its examination of the iPhone Duo revealed details about the hinge mechanism and the internal arrangement of the display components.

According to iFixit, its simulations showed that the reported damage appeared concentrated just below the location where a display cable passes beneath the screen near a central support bar. The organization suggested that the bar might not move out of the display’s path as the device folds, potentially creating a localized area of stress near the reported break.

Apple has not commented on iFixit’s findings, so the proposed explanation has not been confirmed by the company.

Despite the concerns, iFixit described the iPhone Duo as the most repairable foldable device it had tested. However, the group noted that opening the device for repairs would still be difficult.

## Apple’s Response Could Influence Buyer Confidence

Francisco Jeronimo, a vice president at market research firm IDC, described Apple’s replacement offer as the appropriate initial response to the problem. He pointed to Samsung’s difficulties with its original Galaxy Fold in 2019, noting that a rapid and transparent response can help limit the damage caused by early problems in a new product category.

Jeronimo said Apple’s handling of the first-generation issue could influence consumer confidence in foldable phones beyond the company’s own sales. Since Apple has positioned the Duo as a premium alternative to existing foldable devices, its response may shape how buyers assess the reliability of the broader category.

He also highlighted Apple’s established customer base and retail network, which could make in-person device replacements easier to arrange. However, with the iPhone Duo scheduled to launch in another 28 markets on October 30, Jeronimo said the company needed to clarify its warranty position quickly.

The immediate priority for Apple is addressing affected customers while maintaining confidence in its first foldable iPhone. The cause, scale and longer-term implications of the reported display issue remain unclear.