Apple offers replacements for foldable iPhone Duo after screen issues emerge
KATHMANDU: Apple has launched a replacement programme for customers affected by display issues on its newly released foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, following reports of screen damage appearing shortly after purchase, Reuters reported.
The move comes only days after Apple's first foldable handset reached global markets. The device, which starts at £1,999 (US$2,668), drew strong demand at launch, with stocks selling out rapidly across several key markets.
Reports of problems began surfacing over the weekend as users posted images and videos on social media showing vertical lines, dead-pixel bands and cracks developing along the folding crease of the 7.6-inch internal display.
"We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units," Apple said in a statement cited by Reuters.
The company said affected customers can obtain a free hardware replacement through AppleCare, including those without an AppleCare+ subscription and customers who purchased the device through mobile network operators.
Apple has not disclosed how many devices have been affected or what may have caused the defect.
According to Reuters, independent repair specialist iFixit analysed the failures using teardown footage, patent documents and industrial CT scans. Its preliminary assessment indicated that the damage is concentrated around a central support bar and a display cable located beneath the folding section of the screen.
iFixit said a failure of the internal support mechanism to move clear of the display during folding could create pressure against the ultra-thin glass layer, increasing the risk of micro-fractures over time. Despite the reported flaw, the firm rated the iPhone Duo as the most repairable foldable smartphone it has assessed to date.
Market watchers told Reuters that Apple's swift response is important to preserving consumer confidence in its first foldable handset.
Francisco Jeronimo, Vice President at market research firm IDC, said the replacement programme represents an appropriate initial response and drew parallels with the launch difficulties encountered by Samsung's original Galaxy Fold in 2019.
The issue could also add pressure to Apple's operations. With supplies already limited and some pre-order deliveries extending into early 2027, analysts said replacement demand may place additional strain on the company's supply chain while weighing on margins during the product's early commercial rollout.
