iPhone Duo: 3 Days In, Why Screens Are Already Cracking
Early reports of damage
The iPhone Duo has been on sale for only a few days, but complaints about damaged inner displays have appeared online since launch. Buyers describe hearing a crack while opening or closing the device, followed by lines across the screen.
One buyer in Australia reported damage six hours after purchase and fewer than 20 openings. A customer in Texas said the screen failed before setup was complete. Both reportedly received replacements immediately. Similar accounts have come from China, and tech leakers have gathered at least 20 reported cases.
Apple acknowledges an issue
Apple told Gizmodo that it is aware of an inner-display problem affecting a small number of iPhone Duo units. The company said users who experience display trouble should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
The actual number of affected phones is unknown. Online images require caution, since AI-generated pictures of cracked devices are circulating, and some users have used wallpapers to create the appearance of damage.
iFixit examines the hinge
iFixit’s teardown found the iPhone Duo to be the most repairable foldable it had examined. The publication also explored whether the hinge design might help explain reports of screen failures, using teardown footage, patents and CT scans to simulate how the hinge moves.
Its hypothesis focuses on a support bar beneath the flexible display. The bar supports the screen when the phone is flat, but needs to shift as the screen curves during folding. iFixit suggests that insufficient movement could contribute to damage, but this has not been confirmed as the cause.
Scale remains uncertain
The reports could point to a wider construction problem or to a defective batch, but the available information does not settle the question. Apple has not provided a broader explanation of the damage or how many devices may be affected.
The number of complaints so soon after launch is concerning, though online posts alone cannot establish how common the problem is. iFixit’s explanation remains a theory rather than a confirmed finding.
Key points
- Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo units have an inner-display issue.
- Some buyers reported screen damage within hours of purchase.
- At least 20 reported cases have been gathered by tech leakers.
- iFixit proposed a possible hinge-related cause, but it is unconfirmed.