Apple’s first foldable iPhone is already facing an unexpected challenge. Just days after launch, some users have reported cracked inner displays and strange lines on the screen. Apple says affected customers can contact AppleCare for a replacement.

Apple’s much-anticipated entry into the foldable smartphone market has hit an early bump. The company has acknowledged display problems affecting a small number of its newly launched iPhone Duo devices and is offering replacements to customers who experience the fault.

The issue surfaced shortly after the phone went on sale, when users began sharing photographs and videos of damaged displays on social media. Some devices reportedly developed visible lines across the screen, while others showed cracks near the central fold.

For a premium smartphone designed to combine the convenience of an iPhone with the larger screen of a tablet, these early reports raise an obvious question: how reliable is Apple’s new folding design?

What Is Going Wrong With the iPhone Duo’s Screen?

The complaints mainly concern the phone’s large inner display, which folds along a central hinge.

Users have reported thin vertical lines, horizontal bands of bright pixels and visible damage around the crease. Some have also described unusual noises or resistance when opening and closing the device.

In at least some reported cases, the problems appeared very soon after purchase. That is particularly concerning for a phone whose key selling point is its ability to fold open and closed repeatedly.

However, there is an important distinction here: Apple has acknowledged that a small number of devices are affected, but it has not disclosed the total number of faulty units or confirmed the precise cause.

Apple Offers Replacements to Affected Customers

Apple has responded by asking customers experiencing inner-display problems to contact AppleCare.

The company said it was aware of an issue affecting a small number of iPhone Duo units and advised affected owners to seek a replacement.

That is a welcome first step, especially for buyers who have paid a premium for the new device. Still, the bigger test will be whether replacement phones remain reliable and whether Apple can establish the root cause of the failures.

Own an iPhone Duo with display problems? Contact Apple Support or AppleCare and ask about replacement eligibility. Avoid forcing the hinge if it feels unusually stiff or makes unexpected noises.

Could the Hinge Be Responsible?

The exact cause remains unconfirmed, but early analysis offers some clues.

Repair specialists at iFixit examined the iPhone Duo’s internal construction and used teardown footage, patents and CT scans to build a three-dimensional model of its hinge mechanism.

Their analysis suggested that the reported damage locations could be associated with a central support area beneath the flexible display. One possibility is that a moving hinge component fails to clear the display properly during folding, creating concentrated stress at a vulnerable point.

This remains a theory, not a confirmed diagnosis from Apple.

Foldable phones are mechanically more complicated than conventional smartphones. Their hinges, flexible display layers and connecting cables must work together through repeated movement. Even a small design or manufacturing issue can potentially create problems in a delicate part of the display.

A Familiar Problem for the Foldable Phone Industry

Apple is not the first manufacturer to face durability questions with a folding smartphone.

Samsung experienced a highly publicised setback with its original Galaxy Fold in 2019, when early review devices suffered screen failures. The episode highlighted just how challenging it can be to bring a reliable foldable phone to market.

Apple has had years to observe how the category has evolved, which makes the early iPhone Duo reports particularly significant. They do not establish that the phone has a widespread defect, but they underline the engineering challenges that remain even for experienced hardware makers.

The Price Makes the Problem Harder to Ignore

The iPhone Duo is positioned firmly in the premium segment, with UK prices reported to start at £1,999 and rise to £3,199 for higher-end configurations.

At that price, buyers will reasonably expect more than an impressive design and a large screen. They will also expect the hinge and display to hold up under normal everyday use.

A replacement policy can help affected customers, but long-term confidence will depend on the reliability of replacement units, the availability of support and whether future production runs address the underlying problem.

For buyers considering a foldable phone, this is a reminder that first-generation hardware can carry additional uncertainty. Anyone who already owns the device should monitor any unusual screen behaviour and contact Apple promptly if a fault develops.

What This Means for Potential Buyers

There is no need to assume that every iPhone Duo is defective. Apple says the issue affects a small number of units, and the full scale of the problem is not yet known.

Still, anyone planning to purchase one may want to wait for more information about the cause and the performance of replacement devices. Those who need a phone they can depend on immediately may prefer to see how the situation develops before committing to an expensive first-generation foldable.

For Apple, the priority now is straightforward: make things right for affected customers and demonstrate that the problem is understood and under control.

GadgetGyan Verdict

The iPhone Duo is an ambitious move into a smartphone category where the screen and hinge are every bit as important as the processor and cameras. Early display failures are not the start Apple would have wanted.

Its decision to offer replacements is encouraging, but it is only the first step. Until the cause is confirmed and the reliability of replacement devices becomes clearer, questions about the Duo’s long-term durability will remain.

Would you buy a first-generation foldable iPhone, or would you wait for Apple to iron out the early issues? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Apple’s statement to technology media, Reuters reporting and iFixit’s initial teardown analysis. The cause and overall scale of the reported screen failures have not been conclusively established.