Apple to replace iPhone Duo units hit by inner-display faults

What Apple confirmed

Apple said it is aware of an issue affecting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units and that users with display problems should contact AppleCare for a replacement. The company did not say how many devices were affected, so the scale of the problem remains unclear.

The Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display built around a central hinge, the part of a foldable that has caused trouble for rivals. Apple's most expensive iPhone, it is priced from $1,999, or £1,499 in the UK.

What owners report

Since the device went on general sale globally on Friday, owners have posted images on Reddit and social media showing lines across the screen and cracks along the centre crease. Some reported a crunching or cracking noise when opening the handset.

One owner in Australia said their Duo cracked within six hours of taking ownership and was replaced immediately at a local Apple store; the Guardian said it could not verify that account. The extent of the issue is disputed: some images showing faulty devices may have been produced with artificial intelligence.

Analyst caution

Francisco Jeronimo of IDC said it was too early to tell whether the issue was significant and that such problems are common with new products, pointing to Samsung's original Galaxy Fold in 2019 as a case where a fast, transparent response limited the damage. Ben Wood of CCS said there was no evidence yet of a more widespread problem.