Apple admits iPhone Duo inner screen issue, offers replacements

Three days after its foldable went on sale, Apple has publicly acknowledged a problem with the iPhone Duo. In a statement given to Bloomberg and 9to5Mac and shared with The Verge, the company says it is "aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units".

What Apple said

Apple's statement opens by praising the reaction from early buyers and developers, then gets to the point: if users "experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement". According to The Verge, an Apple spokesperson added that most units are not susceptible and that, on phones with the defect, the problem shows up quickly.

Apple has not said how many phones are affected or what exactly causes the failure. Engadget says it has asked for those details.

What owners are reporting

Since the iPhone Duo arrived in stores on 23 October, owners have posted photos and videos of inner screens with a bright line running from the middle of the panel towards one edge, sometimes with dead pixels along the crease. Several reports describe the hinge feeling tighter before the screen cracked on opening. One user in Australia said an Apple Store replaced their phone on the spot.

Over the weekend, iFixit's teardown offered one possible explanation: in the area where cracks appear, the foldable panel may be pressing against a centre bar. We covered that teardown in our story on what iFixit found inside the iPhone Duo.

Not every unit is affected. Engadget says its review unit has had no problems, and CNET reports that a phone it is fold-testing has passed more than 55,000 folds so far.

What to do if you have one

• Check the inner screen carefully in the first days, especially along the fold.
• If you see a line, flicker or dead pixels, or the hinge suddenly feels stiff, stop folding it and contact AppleCare or an Apple Store.
• Keep your receipt and take photos of the fault before you hand the phone in.

If you are still deciding, our roundup of iPhone Duo reviews covers what testers liked and disliked, and the launch-day story has prices and availability. Waiting a few weeks to see whether Apple changes anything in production is a reasonable choice.