iCrack: Apple confirms display issue with iPhone Duo
Apple's first foldable is facing its first scandal. Reports of broken inner displays on the iPhone Duo are mounting. Now, Apple is officially acknowledging the issue.
Various buyers of the iPhone Duo are reporting similar issues: when opening or closing the device, the hinge suddenly becomes stiff and a cracking sound can be heard. Afterwards, the inner screen displays a bright line, pixel errors, or fails partially or completely. The cracks usually run along the fold line or in the lower half of the display. «Bloomberg» has compiled cases from several markets.
Source: Jainam Shah / X
In a statement to US media, Apple refers to a problem with the inner display "in a small number of iPhone Duo devices." The company emphasizes that most smartphones are not affected and that the error occurs very early in affected units. Customers are advised to contact AppleCare or an Apple Store. Several reports from affected users confirm that Apple is replacing defective devices without issue, although a replacement is not always immediately available.
Apple has not commented on the cause. Various experts point to the folding mechanism as the trigger: «iFixit» shows in its teardown video a potential problem involving a central support in the hinge that could exert pressure on the ultra-thin panel from behind when closing. Poorly adjusted metal rails are also a possible cause.
Is the IP68 rating misleading?
Zack Nelson of «JerryRigEverything» also suspects the central support is the reason for display cracks in brand-new devices. Regardless, he also points out major weaknesses in the dust sealing. The IP68 rating seems to apply only in the lab when the foldable is not being moved. As soon as Nelson opens or closes the Duo, dust and sand particles easily penetrate the hinge and reach the inside of the device. Even a single such particle can lead to a display crack.
Nelson therefore sees major problems ahead for the manufacturer: «The IP rating is misleading. The iPhone Duo is definitely not dust-resistant in everyday use.» He advocates for Apple to fix such damage free of charge – even after the warranty has expired. «No, you are not folding it wrong, Apple built it wrong», Nelson notes, alluding to the «Antennagate» of the iPhone 4. If customers have to pay for a new display for the iPhone Duo themselves, it will cost a hefty 1000 US dollars.
Apple markets the Duo with a robust design and long lifespan. The starting price is 2000 Swiss francs or 2299 euros. Initial batches sold out quickly. Delivery times sometimes extend into January, making replacement devices a scarce commodity. Those who are unlucky will therefore receive their luxury foldable twice: once with a crack, and once after a waiting period.
How big the problem actually is remains open. Our test device has remained unscathed so far. Official figures are missing, and the known cases are manageable relative to total production. Earlier foldables from Samsung and other manufacturers had similar launch problems – from peeling protective layers to stiff hinges. Apple entered the market late, but apparently not late enough to outsmart the physics of glass, plastic, and metal. Folding remains a high-risk sport, even in the premium segment.
My fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.
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