Cracks in the inner screen and Apple's explanation
Reports of broken inner screens on the iPhone Duo are multiplying. Apple has acknowledged that there is an issue, but it limits it to a "small number" of devices and does not say exactly how many have failed, according to Digital Life.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, again according to Digital Life, argues that the incidents are real and involve devices that failed during normal use. He also estimates that Apple's wording could cover thousands of units and does not rule out a specific production batch being to blame.
Users usually describe the same scenario: the hinge feels tight when opening, a creaking sound is heard, and then a crack appears. The damage is mainly near the fold and in some cases spreads towards the right side of the screen.
What iFixit suspects and what applies to replacement
The iFixit team examined the device and arrived at two suspicions. The first concerns a central support bar, which may not retract fully when the phone closes. The second concerns the curved guides of the hinge, which may be pressing on the screen from the inside. Digital Life stresses that these explanations remain hypotheses and that Apple has not officially announced the cause.
Those who have a problem should contact AppleCare. According to Digital Life, they do not need to have purchased AppleCare+ for this failure to be covered. The same report warns of possible delays, because the available replacement units are limited. Techmaniacs adds that the company sent technical guidelines to Apple Stores for identifying faulty hinges and that John Ternus recently reiterated that the rate is extremely small, without providing figures.
The Reddit account: a wait until January
Techmaniacs refers to a post by a Reddit user, which it has not independently verified. The person saw a bulge at the bottom of the inner screen, next to the hinge, just ten days after purchase. At the official repair centre they asked for an Express Replacement, meaning receiving the new device first and returning the old one later. The technicians replied that this was not possible because of the large number of pending requests.
Support also told them that a new device might not arrive until January and that there is no guarantee that stock will be found earlier at a store. Over the phone, the first representative claimed that the warranty does not cover the damage. Only when the case was escalated to senior staff was the Express Replacement approved and the £79 the customer had paid refunded.
Techmaniacs notes that the case does not prove that all owners have the same experience. However, it believes it shows how difficult service becomes when replacement stock runs dry. The site also points out that in Greece the iPhone Duo starts at €2,399 and asks Apple for transparency about the number of failures.
Fake stores exploit the launch
Meanwhile, Techgear.gr relays Kaspersky's findings on scams around the device, which officially went on sale on 23 October. Scammers are setting up websites that imitate Apple's look and advertise a 25% discount, with a countdown showing less than thirty minutes until the offer ends. The form asks for contact details and an address, not a card, and says a phone call will follow to arrange payment.
Kaspersky found similar pages in many languages, with a choice of currency. In a campaign targeting Portuguese speakers, the scammers asked for a WhatsApp number and email, under the pretext of checking availability, so as to continue the conversation inside the app.
Experts recommend buying only from official stores or well-known retailers, checking the URL, using single-use virtual cards or digital wallets, and enabling two-factor authentication. They also suggest a password manager and a security solution that detects phishing in real time.
