Shortly after the iPhone Duo launch last Friday, users reported screen damage on new foldable devices. The defects typically appear as cracks in the center of the display above the hinge, accompanied by lines on the right side of the screen.
Apple acknowledged the issue on Monday and confirmed it is replacing damaged units. The company stated that the problem affects a small number of devices, though it has not disclosed specific failure rates.
iFixit lead technician Shahram Mokhtari, who disassembled the device, identified a potential design flaw. The flexible inner screen appears to make contact with metal components within the hinge mechanism during folding.
The teardown revealed that a center support bar may fail to retract sufficiently, creating a stress point. This can lead to physical damage when the screen presses against the hinge structure while the phone is closed.
While Apple has not issued a recall, experts suggest that continued failure reports over the coming months could necessitate one. Mokhtari expects a redesign of the hinge for future iterations of the foldable iPhone.
