Overview
- The iPhone Duo, which went on sale Oct. 23, has had multiple reports of inner‑display cracks, bright pixel lines and audible 'pops' concentrated along the central hinge within days of launch.
- Apple confirmed it is aware of an issue affecting a small number of units and told owners to contact AppleCare for replacements, and some Apple Stores have provided immediate swaps.
- Fine M‑Tec, a supplier of hinge components, has publicly denied responsibility and investigators are examining whether the fault stems from a hinge part, assembly error or a cracked ultra‑thin glass layer in the display stack.
- Limited spare parts, reported low early production yields for foldable panels and Apple’s high out‑of‑warranty inner‑display price (about $999 in the U.S.) mean repairs and replacements could be delayed and costly for owners without AppleCare+.
- The problem has prompted some early buyers to return Duos over usability and fragility concerns and recalls the Galaxy Fold’s 2019 debut problems, raising reputational and market risks for Apple’s first foldable.