Apple's first foldable smartphone, the "iPhone Duo," is facing growing durability controversy as cases of internal display damage are being shared online since its launch. The majority of users are raising concerns about cracks appearing in the same area, suggesting the possibility of a defect in the product itself.
On the 25th, foreign media such as U.S. IT specialist outlet The Verge, MacRumors, and PhoneArena, as well as social media platforms like Reddit, are continuously revealing cases of internal display damage on the iPhone Duo.
The most notable case involves a buyer in Melbourne, Australia, who experienced the screen cracking approximately six hours after receiving the device, without having unfolded it even 20 times. The user explained that they felt something unusual at the hinge while unfolding it, and the screen shattered along a line accompanied by a cracking sound.
They immediately visited an Apple Store and received a replacement device. This post was recognized as a verified review by the administrator of the iPhone Duo community on Reddit.
Various buyers are also posting on social media platforms like Reddit and X to verify cracks in their iPhone Duo displays. Since the cracks appear in similar locations with similar patterns, concerns are being raised that this may be a durability issue with the iPhone Duo product itself rather than user error.
IT specialist outlet PhoneArena commented on this matter, stating, "It has become quite clear that there is a critical design flaw in the hinge of the iPhone Duo," and added, "Ultimately, the iPhone Duo is a first-generation product, and first-generation products are prone to various issues." The outlet also noted previous reports that Apple had rejected approximately 40% of assembled iPhone Duo units due to manufacturing defects.
Similar defects were found in durability tests conducted by YouTubers as well. In a durability test conducted on the 23rd by "JerryRigEverything," a YouTuber known as the "King of Destruction," cracks appeared in similar areas. When the iPhone Duo was bent in reverse, green lines appeared on the screen, and as more force was applied, the lines expanded until the entire internal screen stopped responding to touch. Additionally, when sand was sprinkled on the hinge area, the phone failed to fold, and it showed some vulnerability in scratch tests.
The YouTuber stated, "When I tested Samsung's Galaxy Fold products, this type of damage never occurred once," and criticized the service policy by adding, "While Samsung offers a free replacement service for the first 12 months if the screen protector is damaged, Apple charges $49 from the start." Similar defects were also observed in tests conducted by domestic YouTuber "Gungmuhagi" (Curiosity).
Many people are pointing to the hinge section of the area where the display cracks as the cause of the problem. It appears that a hinge, designed to prevent the device from folding in the reverse direction, is somehow delivering impact to the screen for unknown reasons.
The issue is that even with insufficient pre-order inventory, users must wait until next year for an exchange or repair if their product has defects. One domestic user posted on an online community, "I visited the Hongdae store due to a screen defect in my Duo, but both repair and exchange are impossible," adding, "The only option is a return, and I was told I can only receive a new purchase in January. There are no measures taken for defects that occur."
Regarding this matter, Apple has not released a statement on the cause of the defect.
in TECH
