Apple Officially Acknowledges iPhone Duo Defect, Says "Affected Devices Will Be Replaced"

by Lee Myeonghwan

Published 27 Oct.2026 15:26(KST)

"Issue affecting the inner display in a small number of iPhones"

Apple has officially acknowledged a defect causing damage to the inner screen in some units of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. The company plans to replace all affected devices.

In a statement on Oct. 27, Apple said, "We are aware of an issue affecting the inner display in a small number of iPhone Duo units," adding, "Customers experiencing display issues should contact AppleCare to arrange a replacement."

An iPhone Duo with screen damage less than 24 hours after purchase. Screenshot from Reddit.

Complaints emerged among some users shortly after the iPhone Duo went on sale on Oct. 23, with users reporting damage to the inner display. Specifically, they said a sound came from the device as they opened or closed the inner display, followed by a vertical crack along the hinge in the middle of the screen and a horizontal white line on the right side.

Because the same area was damaged while users were opening and closing the screen, some raised concerns that the device might have a defect. Others suggested that a design flaw in the hinge could prevent its components from moving properly and cause this kind of damage.

Depending on how many devices prove defective, the issue could potentially escalate into a large-scale recall. If there is a problem with the foldable hinge design, which has been cited as the cause of the damage, other devices could also experience similar problems. Apple, however, has not disclosed the number of repair or replacement requests related to screen damage or the defect rate among all devices.

In the United States, supply shortages caused by the iPhone Duo's low production yield have led the company to offer refunds rather than replacements. The telecommunications industry believes that, in South Korea, Apple has secured enough stock to replace defective devices.

Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst at market research firm IDC, said of the issue, "It shows that even a company like Apple, with vast engineering resources and a robust supply chain, inevitably faces a steep learning curve in the foldable device category."