An owner shared a photograph showing lines across the right side of an iPhone Duo display.
Apple urges affected owners to seek replacement handsets after reports of display lines, cracks and crunching sounds.
Apple says it will replace handsets affected by iPhone Duo screen problems, days after its first foldable smartphone went on sale. The company acknowledged an inner-display issue affecting a small number of devices and urged owners to contact it.
Photos shared on social media show lines across some screens. Other owners have also reported cracks along the central crease or a crunching sound when opening the phone.
However, the scale of the problem remains unclear. Apple has not disclosed how many handsets have developed faults, while some online images may be AI-generated.
Apple responds to iPhone Duo screen problems
One owner, Justin Lokos, posted a photograph showing lines across the right side of his handset’s display. He later shared another image showing a new phone beside the damaged device, thanking an Apple store in New York.
Apple’s replacement pledge follows a launch that drew crowds to its stores around the world last week. The company is seeking to refresh its device range while competing with established foldable-phone makers.
In the UK, the Duo starts at £1,999 ($2,668), making it Apple’s most expensive iPhone. Meanwhile, the highest-specification models cost up to £3,199.
Foldable display brings engineering challenges
The Duo has a 7.6-inch (19.3cm) inner display and a central hinge. That complex design has also presented challenges for some rival manufacturers.
Samsung faced an early setback with its first Galaxy Fold in 2019, when reviewers reported broken screens. However, the reports about the Duo do not establish what caused its display faults.
Android users already have a wide choice of foldable handsets. Apple, meanwhile, spent years developing the technology before bringing the Duo to market.
A major change to the iPhone design
The Duo represents Apple’s first major iPhone redesign in almost two decades. When shut, it resembles a wider iPhone; once opened, it takes the form of a small tablet.
New chief executive John Ternus unveiled the handset after succeeding Tim Cook in September. Speaking at Apple’s California headquarters last month, he argued that competing foldables felt like two awkwardly joined phones.
Ternus also said the Duo would change the experience of using a foldable handset. For now, Apple is directing users with affected inner displays to contact the company for replacements.
