Apple’s Foldable iPhone Duo Draws Early Complaints of the Screen Cracking

(Bloomberg) -- The iPhone Duo, one of Apple Inc.'s biggest new products in years, is drawing a growing number of complaints from customers who say the foldable display cracked after just hours or days of use.

In these cases, customers reported hearing a crunching sound when unfolding the phone, followed by a large crack forming along the center crease. Some users also experienced a white patch or other display malfunction on the right side of the screen.

Reports of the problem first surfaced on Reddit and other social media sites. Bloomberg News has since independently verified the issue with more than half a dozen customers, who provided photos showing damage to their devices or evidence of their support conversations with Apple.

Apple acknowledged the issue in a statement, saying it was "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," the Cupertino, California-based company said. Most Duos aren't affected by the problem, and the units that are impacted exhibit the defect quickly, Apple said.

"I went to unfold it and it felt stuck/harder/slower to open than usual. And when I opened it it had the lines on the screen," Tom Battle, an Apple customer from San Diego, told Bloomberg. "You could feel a bump or loose piece under the display."

Venture capitalist Jonathan King had a similar experience, saying he heard a crunch-like sound when opening his device on Monday.

"I had all intent to post a positive review of my Duo experience today, until it happened to me," King said. "The smaller outer screen works just fine, but the inner screen is now unusable," he said, adding that the device thinks he is touching the inner screen when he is not.

While the problem appears to affect only a subset of units, it represents an embarrassing setback for Apple, which spent more than a decade developing the device and touted its superior durability, hinge design and display technology.

The Duo, which went on sale Friday, represents the company's first foray into foldable phones — and the biggest-ever design change to the iPhone, Apple's largest source of revenue. Like other foldable phones, the device has a smaller screen on its outer surface and can be opened to reveal a larger display.