Apple says it will replace iPhone Duo handsets that have developed problems with their inner displays, just days after the technology giant’s first foldable phone went on sale.

Photos posted on social media showed lines appearing on some screens, while other owners reported cracks along the centre crease and a crunching noise when opening the phone. Apple said the issue affects a small number of units and urged affected users to contact the company for a replacement.

What Apple has said

Apple said in a statement: “We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units.” It added: “If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement.”

Apple has not said what causes the problem or how many devices are affected, and no recall has been announced. Some images of faulty devices online may have been created using artificial intelligence.

What may be going wrong

Repair firm iFixit said it used teardown footage, patents and CT scans to build a 3D simulation of the Duo’s hinge, and found the reported damage clustered just below where a display cable runs under the screen near a central support bar. It suggested the bar might fail to drop out of the screen’s way as the phone folds, creating a stress hotspot. Apple has not commented on those findings.

The phone itself

The Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display held together by a central hinge, and a starting price of £1,999 in the UK, rising to £3,199 for the most well-equipped models. It is Apple’s most expensive iPhone ever. Samsung’s first foldable, the Galaxy Fold, suffered a similar early setback in 2019 when reviewers reported broken screens.

Sources: BBC via Capital FM and Reuters