Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, which went on sale on October 23, has already sparked complaints from customers about the internal screen being damaged. It can crack during normal folding, even if the device hasn't been dropped or hit. Apple has acknowledged the problem and promised to replace the faulty phones.
Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, which went on sale on October 23, has already sparked complaints from customers about the internal screen being damaged. It can crack during normal folding, even if the device hasn't been dropped or hit. Apple has acknowledged the problem and promised to replace the faulty phones.
This is reported by Bloomberg.
The user stories are very similar. First, the phone suddenly becomes harder to open, then a crunching sound is heard, and cracks, bright stripes or white spots appear on the internal screen. Some users have also noticed a strange bulge under the display, as if something inside is preventing the mechanism from working.
For example, venture capitalist Jonathan King was about to write a positive review of his iPhone Duo when he heard a crunching sound as he opened it. The external screen continued to work, but the internal screen became unusable. In addition, the phone began to respond to touches that were not actually there.
Another customer, Surya Mangi, reported that his smartphone's display cracked about 30 hours after purchase. There was no Apple Store nearby, so he was initially advised to send the device in for inspection and be without the phone for more than a week.
Another owner, Tom Battle, said that the phone seemed to get stuck when opening it. When he finally managed to open the device, stripes appeared on the screen. There was a protrusion or loose part under the display.
The company has already acknowledged the issue, but emphasizes that it only affects a small number of iPhone Duos. Apple claims that most smartphones work fine, and if there is a defect, it usually manifests itself quite quickly. Customers with damaged screens are advised to contact AppleCare for a replacement device.
However, not everyone is able to get a new smartphone right away. Some owners have already received new smartphones, while others are forced to wait because there are no devices in stock in stores.
Apple is currently investigating the cause of the problem, with engineers even trying to retrieve damaged phones to figure out what went wrong.
Experts at the repair platform iFixit suggest that the hinge, the mechanism that allows the smartphone to fold in half, is to blame. They believe that one of its parts may be failing and damaging the screen from the inside.
