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US — Ars Technica

Some iPhone Duo screens are already failing, Apple says only a "small number" are affected

Devices1 min read

Some early buyers of Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo say their screens broke within hours or minutes of use. Apple says only a "small number" of devices are affected.

Screens failing on new foldable

The iPhone Duo went on sale last week for $2,000. Some owners report that the inside screen has stopped working properly. Photos online show bright lines running down the screen, starting near the middle, and some phones also have rows of dead pixels along the fold. Apple says only a "small number" of phones are affected.

Key facts

  • Price: $2,000
  • Most broken phones fail within about one day of use
  • Some phones failed after only a few opens and closes, or before setup was finished
  • Replacing the screen reportedly costs about half the price of the whole phone
  • Teardown site iFixit has taken one phone apart to look for the cause

What is an OLED screen?

An OLED screen is made of tiny dots called pixels. Each pixel makes its own light. When the layers in the screen are damaged, a pixel can get too much electricity and stay bright white all the time, or get none and stay black. The only known fix is to replace the screen. Foldable phones are harder to build because the screen must bend again and again at the hinge.

Why this matters

Apple made big claims about its "precision-engineered" hinge. If the screens break so soon, buyers may lose trust in the first foldable iPhone. Repairs are costly, and replacement parts may be hard to find, so early owners could face long waits and high bills.

What to watch

  • Whether Apple gives an official cause for the failures
  • How many phones are affected as more owners report problems
  • Whether Apple stores have enough replacement screens
  • What iFixit finds when it looks closer at the hinge cable

Glossary

iPhone Duo
Apple's first foldable phone, which has a bendable screen.
OLED
A type of screen where each tiny pixel makes its own light.
iFixit
A website that takes devices apart to show how they are built and how to repair them.
Foldable
A phone with a screen that bends so the device can open and close.

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