Apple to replace iPhone Duos affected by screen problem

Photos posted on social media show lines that appeared on the screens of the technology giant's first ever foldable device, which has a starting price of £1,999 ($2,668) in the UK.

Apple said it was aware of "an issue impacting the inner display on a small number" of the phones and urged affected users to contact the company for a replacement.

The Duo's launch, which attracted crowds at Apple stores around the world last week, is an attempt to reinvigorate the brand's device range and challenge the foldable phones made by rivals.

An iPhone Duo user, Justin Lokos, posted an image of a device with lines across the right side of the display and later uploaded a picture of a new handset alongside the broken one, thanking an Apple store in New York for its help.

The extent of the issue remains unclear. Apple did not say how many devices were affected, while some images showing faulty devices may have been created using AI.

But he added the early reports of issues also showed "that even a company with Apple's engineering resources and supply chain discipline faces a steep learning curve in foldables".

It is Apple's most expensive iPhone ever, costing up to £3,199 for the most well-equipped models.

Jeronimo said because Apple had positioned the Duo as a "premium alternative" to established foldables, "how it handles this first-generation issue will shape buyer confidence in the category well beyond its own sales".

"Apple has a loyal customer base and a retail network that can swap devices on the spot, but with a further 28 markets launching on 30 October, it needs to clarify its warranty position quickly," he said.

The Duo marks Apple's first major iPhone redesign in almost two decades and was unveiled by new chief executive John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook in September.

The Duo, he said, would "redefine the experience of using a foldable phone".