Apple acknowledged Monday that an inner-display problem affects a “small number” of iPhone Duo phones, directing owners to AppleCare for replacement as reports raise questions about cause and repair costs.
Apple told MacRumors on Oct. 26 that it was aware of the issue and advised affected customers to contact AppleCare. The company did not disclose how many devices were affected or explain what caused the problem.
An Australian owner wrote on Reddit that the display broke after about six hours and fewer than 20 openings. The owner said an Apple Store replaced the phone. Reddit moderators marked the post a “Verified Claim” after reviewing additional photos and Apple documents, but said they could not verify the cause.
9to5Mac reported about 10 distinct public reports of damage as of 6:45 a.m. ET on Oct. 25 (3:45 a.m. PT, the outlet’s stated cutoff). That is a count of public reports, not a measure of how many phones failed. EconoTimes previously covered reports of hinge-area screen damage.
A separate image circulated in an X post on Sept. 10 with a claim that it showed a phone after three months of use, one day after Apple announced the Duo. Lead Stories concluded the image was likely AI-generated. It said Apple’s Sept. 9 launch material contained earlier, intact forms of the image and cited two AI detectors; Hive Moderation rated it 99.9% likely to be generated. That assessment applies to the image examined, not other photos or videos.
iFixit’s Oct. 25 teardown offered a possible mechanical explanation. Its simulation suggested the center support bar might not lower far enough, placing stress near the display’s bending area. iFixit presented this as a theory; Apple has not named a cause or described a fix.
Apple introduced the Duo as its first foldable iPhone on Sept. 9, with a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer display. Availability began Oct. 23. Apple’s listed U.S. service prices, summarized by iFixit, are $999 for inner-display damage out of warranty and $99 with AppleCare; those figures do not establish what an individual owner will pay.
