Apple’s estimated ₹149,900 out-of-warranty inner-screen repair for the iPhone Duo in India is about half the phone’s ₹299,900 starting price, putting the cost of an uncovered failure in focus.
Apple said the issue affects “a small number” of units and advised people experiencing display problems to contact AppleCare for a replacement. It has not disclosed a case count or said whether every affected device will be replaced free. The Duo went on sale in India Oct. 23.
Reddit user leftyhyzer16 wrote that the hinge became tight after about four folds, then popped when pushed beyond the resistance and the screen was damaged. The poster later reported receiving a replacement at no charge from an Apple Store; one account does not establish Apple’s coverage policy for other customers.
Repair firm iFixit located reported breaks around the hinge’s middle support, near the display-cable opening. It outlined two possible mechanical explanations: a support bar might not retract fully, or curved hinge rails might interfere with the display. The teardown did not confirm either possibility. The flexible screen bends into the hinge area when folded, and iFixit’s teardown describes an assembly containing gears, springs and metal joints.
Apple’s Oct. 26 hinge guidance lists unusual noises, looseness and difficulty opening or closing among the symptoms. It advises users to remove third-party cases or screen protectors and check for dust. Apple says hinge issues have no software remedy or diagnostic test; when troubleshooting does not resolve them, it recommends replacing the inner-display assembly. In a separate test, iFixit found particles reached moving hinge components and the hinge began crunching, but did not connect that result to the reported screen failures.
Apple’s India repair page also lists ₹224,900 for “other damage.” The ₹149,900 estimate is subject to inspection and may include taxes and service-provider fees, according to Apple. Its India warranty covers manufacturing issues for one year but excludes accidental damage, with Apple assessing individual cases. Owners whose repair is not covered may therefore face the listed estimate.
