Apple to replace iPhone Duo units with screen defects

Apple said it is aware of an issue affecting the inner display of a limited number of iPhone Duo handsets and is asking owners to contact the company for a replacement. The problem, first noticed in photos shared on social media, shows lines or cracks along the device’s central crease and, in some cases, a crunching sound when the phone is opened.

The iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable phone, launched last week with a starting price of £1,999 in the United Kingdom. The 7.6-inch inner screen is hinged at the centre, a design that has produced similar defects in competing foldable models.

Technology analyst Francisco Jeronimo of IDC cautioned that the reports are early and that “some caution was needed before drawing conclusions about the whole production run,” adding that the issue highlights the challenges even a company with extensive engineering resources faces when entering the foldable market. He noted that how Apple resolves the problem could influence consumer confidence in the broader category, especially as the Duo is positioned as a premium alternative to existing foldables.

Apple did not disclose how many devices are affected, and some of the images circulating online may have been generated with artificial-intelligence tools. A user who posted a photo of a defective unit later thanked an Apple store in New York for providing a replacement.

The Duo’s launch, overseen by chief executive John Ternus, represents Apple’s most significant iPhone redesign in nearly two decades and precedes roll-outs in 28 additional markets scheduled for 30 October.