Following the launch of the iPhone Duo, several users reported issues involving screen cracking on the inner display of the brand-new foldable devices. Within hours of the release last Friday, owners shared photos across social media showing damage appearing in the middle of the screen above the hinge, alongside lines emerging on the right side of the display.
On Monday, Apple acknowledged an issue and confirmed it is replacing damaged units. The company has not provided details regarding how many broken phones have been reported so far. Shahram Mokhtari, lead teardown technician at iFixit, examined the device to determine the potential cause.
Key Points Of The iPhone Duo Hinge Screen Cracking Issue
- The iPhone Duo was launched last Friday, with reports of inner screen damage emerging within hours.
- Apple acknowledged the issue on Monday and is replacing damaged units without disclosing total failure figures.
- iFixit lead teardown technician Shahram Mokhtari identified potential design factors involving the hinge and flexible inner screen.
- Damage often centers on a black spot where metal reportedly hits the delicate display during folding.
- Apple has not issued a recall for the devices, stating the issue affects a small number of units.
What iFixit Teardowns Reveal About The Hinge
According to Mokhtari, the hardware trouble stems from an issue along the hinge, where a series of gears, springs, and joints work together. The mechanism allows the device to close flat while attempting to prevent a deeper crease by giving the screen space to bend gently inside when closed. However, at the troublesome spot, the flexible inner screen appears to push up against a part of the hinge.
Mokhtari notes that the inner screen is extremely sensitive, stating that using a pick or a sharp tool on the edges would break it. Photographs of damaged units shared on social media frequently display a focused black spot on the display, which Mokhtari attributes to metal hitting the screen.
Visual representations in iFixit’s written and video Duo teardowns highlight where the hinge transitions. The center hinge support makes space for a crossing flex cable, creating several edges that could serve as the culprit. The damage observed by iFixit occurs at points where the center support bar may not always drop down far enough while the screen folds, creating a potential stress hot spot between the flat bar and the bent screen inside a closed device.
Apple Response And Future Redesigns
Apple stated that the issue affects a small number of Duo units. Mokhtari noted that exact figures remain unknown outside of Apple, adding that the company likely possesses more data than it has disclosed. Because foldable screens and complex hinges are delicate, a certain number of failures are expected. While Apple isn’t recalling the devices, Mokhtari indicated that if failures persist after three months, the problem could be deemed more widespread and potentially lead to a recall.
As this is the first generation of the iPhone Duo, Apple engineers are gathering their initial data on the hinge mechanism. Mokhtari expressed certainty that Apple will redesign the faulty components for the next-generation foldable. At the same time, he observed that overall, users actively using the phones are generally not encountering any issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is causing the screen cracking on the iPhone Duo?
According to iFixit lead teardown technician Shahram Mokhtari, the screen cracking on the iPhone Duo is caused by the flexible inner screen pushing up against parts of the hinge mechanism. A stress hot spot can form if the center support bar does not drop down far enough during folding, causing metal to hit the delicate display.
Is Apple replacing the damaged iPhone Duo units?
Apple acknowledged an issue affecting a small number of iPhone Duo units and confirmed that it is replacing damaged devices. The company has not issued a product recall at this time, and the situation is being monitored by technicians to determine if failures persist.
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