iPhone Duo Launch Day Marred by Widespread Hinge Display Cracks
- Apple released its most expensive handset to date, the iPhone Duo, on Friday, October 23, at retail prices ranging from more than HK$17,000 to nearly HK$28,000.
- Early buyers quickly encountered display defects shortly after unboxing their new devices.
- One affected owner in Australia recounted opening the device fewer than 20 times over six hours before hearing an audible crack and watching the screen break along the...
Apple released its most expensive handset to date, the iPhone Duo, on Friday, October 23, at retail prices ranging from more than HK$17,000 to nearly HK$28,000. Just one day after hitting store shelves, the foldable smartphone drew widespread reports of hardware failures from early adopters across global markets.
Launch Day Display Failures and Structural Cracks
Early buyers quickly encountered display defects shortly after unboxing their new devices. Complaints circulating on international discussion boards and social media platforms point to structural failures centered on the handset’s internal flexible display panel. The inner display of the iPhone Duo is cracking from top to bottom along the entire hinge, producing a bright white line of pixel issues on the right-hand side. Comparable issues surfaced across mainland China, where patrons shared photographs and video footage captured at Apple stores featuring store demo models and brand-new phones experiencing the exact same fracture along the middle crease. Almost all of the display faults occur right along the hinge and result in a line of bright pixels across one side of the screen.
One affected owner in Australia recounted opening the device fewer than 20 times over six hours before hearing an audible crack and watching the screen break along the hinge, noting there were no marks or damage on the inner screen surface or external hinge to suggest anything had been caught. Reports of faulty iPhone hinges don’t seem to be contained to any specific market, with users from the U.S. to Australia to China reporting cracked displays.
Retail Replacement Policies and Engineering Stress
Retail responses varied by customer location on launch day. In at least one reported case in Australia, an affected owner avoided a phone support requirement to put down a full-cost hold for an express replacement and went straight to an Apple Store, where staff apologized and provided a brand-new handset on the spot. Out-of-warranty screen replacements could cost owners over HK$8,700, with official service price schedules showing that replacing an inner display module on the iPhone Duo costs HK$8,749.
Francis Fong Po-kiu, who serves as honorary president for the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, noted that screen fractures and visual flaws close to the fold likely stem from structural design limitations typical of initial-generation folding devices. He also advised consumers to ensure the display is completely clear of any dust or gritty particles prior to shutting the hardware, cautioning that foreign objects caught inside might pierce the delicate screen and lead to expensive repair bills.
Unresolved Durability Questions and Warranty Coverage
It remains unclear how widespread the defect is or whether the reported cracks point to a broader durability concern. The circumstances behind several cases remain unclear and accidental damage cannot be ruled out until more cases emerge. Apple may be collecting defective devices to investigate what went wrong and fix the issue in future manufacturing runs.
Under Apple’s standard one-year limited warranty, material or manufacturing defects occurring under normal operating conditions qualify for coverage and free servicing, and hinge failures caused by normal use should be covered. Customers receiving an iPhone Duo also have a two-week window to return their devices. Ahead of the release, Apple retail employees were advised that there would likely be no iPhone Duo stock available for walk-in purchases on launch day, October 23, and were instructed to discourage customers without pre-orders from visiting stores.