Apple responds to early screen flaws on $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo

Apple’s (AAPL) first foldable iPhone, the $1,999 iPhone Duo, debuted to long lines and strong pre-order demand Friday, but early adopters are already reporting a troubling flaw: inner screens developing bright horizontal lines that spread from the hinge.

Apple on Monday said it was aware of the issue, which it said affected a “small number” of phones, and that it would replace the devices under its AppleCare warranty.

“We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units,” an Apple representative said as per reports. “If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement.”

Apple said on its website that an inner-screen repair will be $999 for iPhone Duos that are out-of-warranty. "Others have created foldables that just feel like two phones awkwardly stuck together," new chief executive John Ternus told an audience at Apple's California headquarters last month. The Duo, he said, would "redefine the experience of using a foldable phone".

“The hinge is actually dozens of parts, with ludicrous precision,” iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens posted on X. “A manufacturing variance or grain of sand can kill the fragile display panel it protects.”

Samsung (SSNLF) faced a similar early setback in 2019, when reviewers reported screen failures on its first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold.