27th October 2026 – (Cupertino) Apple said it will replace iPhone Duo handsets that exhibit inner display problems after early buyers reported faults within days of the foldable phone’s release. Images shared on social platforms showed thin lines appearing across one side of the inner screen, while some users reported cracks along the centre crease and a crunching sound when opening the device. The company said it is aware of an issue affecting a small number of units and urged customers experiencing problems to contact its support channels for a replacement.
The iPhone Duo, which starts at £1,999 ($2,668) in the UK, represents Apple’s first foldable smartphone and the brand’s most expensive iPhone to date, rising to £3,199 for top‑tier configurations. The device features a 7.6‑inch inner display joined by a central hinge, a complex mechanism that has challenged rival manufacturers and was implicated in early durability setbacks for other foldables. One owner, Justin Lokos, posted a photograph of a handset with lines on the right side of the display and later shared an image of a replacement device, thanking staff at an Apple store in New York for their assistance.
While the scale of the problem remains unclear, Apple did not disclose how many devices may be affected and some of the images circulating online could be fabricated using artificial intelligence. The launch drew sizeable crowds at Apple stores worldwide as the company seeks to reinvigorate its line‑up and compete with established Android foldables. The Duo, unveiled by chief executive John Ternus, was pitched as a ground‑up rethink of the category, with Apple claiming it would redefine the experience of using a foldable phone rather than feel like two devices joined together