Apple has acknowledged a fault affecting the inner screen of a small number of iPhone Duo phones. The company's first folding phone went on sale in shops on Friday, with prices starting at $1,999. Some owners reported screen failures within hours or days of first use.
Owners described cracks along the centre fold, bright lines and white patches on the display. Some heard a crunch as they opened the phone. Apple says most Duo phones are not affected and that faulty units develop the problem soon after people begin using them.
Repair specialists at iFixit examined the phone by taking it apart and building a three-dimensional model of its hinge, the mechanism that allows it to fold. They suspect that a central support bar may not move down far enough, allowing the flexible screen to press against it. This remains a possible explanation rather than a confirmed cause.
Apple advises affected owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement. Some customers have already received new phones in shops, while others are waiting for stock. Supplies have been limited since advance orders sold out within minutes on 16 October.
