Apple to Replace iPhone Duo Handsets with Screen Problems

Apple says it will replace iPhone Duo handsets that have developed screen problems, just days after the foldable phone went on sale.

Photos shared on social media show lines on the screens of the company’s first foldable device. The handset starts at £1,999 ($2,668) in the UK. Some owners also posted photos of cracks along the centre crease, while others reported a crunching noise when opening the device.

Apple said it was aware of “an issue impacting the inner display on a small number” of units and urged affected users to contact the company for a replacement. One user said Apple had helped him replace his faulty Duo.

The Duo has a 7.6-inch (19.3cm) inner display held together by a central hinge. The report describes the hinge as a complex piece of engineering and notes that folding devices from some Apple competitors have also had flaws. Samsung’s first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, suffered an early setback in 2019 after reviewers reported broken screens.

The launch drew long queues at Apple stores around the world last week. The company is seeking to reinvigorate its catalogue and challenge foldable phones from rivals.