iPhone Duo's inner screen cracking issue: Apple tells stores what to do

Apple has issued new instructions to its retail stores and authorised service providers on how to handle reports of inner display cracking on the iPhone Duo. The company has asked technicians to inspect affected devices and repair or replace them based on its standard service procedures. The move comes as reports of screen damage continue to surface among some early buyers of Apple's first foldable iPhone.According to a report by MacRumors, the guidance was shared with Apple Stores and authorised service providers in an internal memo this week. Apple has described the problem as affecting only a small number of iPhone Duo units. It had earlier advised customers experiencing display issues to contact AppleCare for a replacement. The company has also clarified that most units are not affected and that the defect appears relatively soon after use.What is causing the iPhone Duo display to crack?The reports began appearing shortly after the iPhone Duo reached customers. Some users shared pictures of cracks and bright lines appearing along the inner display, particularly around the central hinge. In one case reported by MacRumors, an iPhone Duo owner in Australia said the screen cracked after fewer than 20 openings, despite there being no visible damage beforehand.While Apple has not explained what is causing the problem, an early teardown by repair website iFixit points towards a possible issue with the hinge mechanism. The team used teardown footage, patents and CT scans to build a 3D model of the hinge and compare it with the reported damage. According to iFixit, a central support bar inside the hinge may not be retracting properly when the phone is folded. This could put extra pressure on a small area of the inner display and cause it to crack. However, this is only a possible explanation, and Apple has not confirmed the cause.The repair website also found that fixing the iPhone Duo's inner display is not an easy job, even though it described the device as the most repairable foldable it has taken apart. iFixit gave it a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10. It also noted that an out-of-warranty screen repair could cost $999 in the US (roughly Rs 94,817).For now, Apple has not announced a recall or a separate public repair programme for the issue. Its latest guidance instead asks technicians to follow existing inspection and repair procedures. This means affected customers should contact AppleCare or visit an Apple service provider to have their device checked.- Ends