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Screen defect may affect 'thousands of iPhone Duo' units
Devices2 min read
Apple says a small number of its foldable iPhone Duo phones have cracked screens. A well-known Apple reporter, Mark Gurman, thinks the real number could be in the thousands.
What happened
The first foldable iPhone, called the iPhone Duo, has a problem: its screen can crack. Apple told CNBC in late October that only a small number of phones were affected. But Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says he checked many cases himself. He believes the real total is in the thousands. In some cases, the phones broke while people were using them normally.
Key numbers and facts
- Apple says "a small number" of iPhone Duo phones are affected.
- Gurman says the real number could reach thousands.
- Apple says the problem is a manufacturing fault, so repairs or replacements are free and do not need AppleCare+.
- iFixit, a site that takes devices apart to study them, has offered two possible causes.
Why the hinge matters
The iPhone Duo folds open and shut, and a part called the hinge makes that possible. Users who report the problem say the hinge feels stiff or squeaky when opening, and then a light crack sound comes before a crack appears along the middle and right side of the inner screen. Gurman thinks a batch of phones may have left the factory with a faulty hinge part. iFixit suggests that a support bar in the hinge does not fully lower when the phone folds, or that guide rails are bent and push up into the screen.
Why it matters
A broken screen is expensive and frustrating, especially for a new kind of phone. Apple also faces a separate complaint, called "Gapgate" by users, where wide gaps appear around the edges and hinge. These gaps may weaken the IP68 water resistance rating and add pressure on the frame, which could lead to more screen damage. Experts advise users to contact Apple right away if the hinge feels stiff, rather than keep using the phone until the screen breaks. Because iPhone Duo supply is short, replacement phones may take longer than expected.
What to watch
- Whether Apple raises its estimate of how many phones are affected.
- Whether Apple confirms a faulty hinge part and starts a wider repair program.
- Whether the Gapgate gaps are officially studied or fixed.
- How long replacement phones take, since stock is limited.
Glossary
- iPhone Duo
- Apple's first foldable iPhone, with a screen that bends open and shut.
- AppleCare+
- An extra paid warranty plan from Apple that covers repairs beyond the standard warranty.
- iFixit
- A website that takes electronic devices apart to show how they are built and how to repair them.
- IP68
- A rating that means a phone resists dust and can survive being underwater for a time.
- Gapgate
- A nickname users gave to the wide gaps seen around the edges and hinge of the iPhone Duo.