Apple has acknowledged a fault with the inner screen of some iPhone Duos. It says affected owners can get a replacement through AppleCare.
Apple gave the same statement to several outlets on Monday, including CNBC, where Kif Leswing and MacKenzie Sigalos reported it. It follows reports of cracking screens from owners over the weekend.
“We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement,” Apple said.
Apple also told Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that most Duo units are not susceptible to the fault, he wrote on X. Affected phones show the defect soon after first use, Apple told him.
The statement does not say what causes the fault or how many phones it hits. Out of warranty, an inner-screen repair costs $999, according to Apple’s support site. The Duo itself starts at $1,999.
A problem at the hinge
Owners describe bright lines spreading across the inner screen from the hinge. Some said their screens broke within hours. One owner said it failed before finishing setup, in a post on Reddit.
iFixit, which took a Duo apart over the weekend, suspects the hinge. Its chief executive, Kyle Wiens, set out the problem in a post on X.
“The hinge is actually dozens of parts, with ludicrous precision. A manufacturing variance or grain of sand can kill the fragile display panel it protects,” Wiens wrote.
Apple points to apps
Apple also said early buyers like the phone and that developers are updating their apps for it.
“The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor,” Apple said.
Apple also released iOS 27.2 on Monday. It adds Apple Pencil support to the Duo, as Emma Roth reported for The Verge.
The Duo went on sale in stores on Friday, after preorders sold out within minutes on 16 October.
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