Apple reportedly identifies hinge material defect behind iPhone Duo screen cracks

Apple is said to have traced the iPhone Duo "crackgate" problem to defective materials supplied by one of its two hinge manufacturers, according to a leak posted by Kang on Weibo and cited by Ice Universe. The leak states that the issue is not related to the hinge design, which may explain why only a limited number of devices appear to be affected.

Apple reportedly can identify the units with the faulty hinges using serial numbers, allowing the company to target repairs or replacements more precisely. The company has announced that it will bypass standard repair wait times and provide free device replacements under the standard manufacturing warranty for Duo users whose screens crack, regardless of whether they have an AppleCare+ plan.

Analysts note that the exact number of affected iPhone Duo units remains unclear, given the limited initial supply and the difficulty of assessing social-media reports. A suggested approach for consumers is to check their device serial numbers with a tool that could confirm whether their phone contains the problematic hinge.

Apple has not detailed its broader plan for addressing the batch of devices with the defective hinges, and it is uncertain how the issue may impact delivery timelines for pending orders.