Apple will replace iPhone Duos with cracked inner screens, but the out-of-warranty fix costs $999

Apple said Monday it will replace iPhone Duo units that develop inner-screen problems, days after its first foldable phone went on sale. Customers have reported a cracked or broken inner display, with bright horizontal lines near the hinge, CNBC reported. Reuters, Bloomberg, CNET and The Next Web also covered Apple's response.

What Apple said

"We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units," an Apple representative told CNBC. "If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement." Apple did not say how many units are affected. It also said early user response has been "incredibly positive."

The phone started at $1,999 and reached stores Friday amid long lines. Apple's website lists an out-of-warranty inner-screen repair at $999, per CNBC, or half the purchase price.

What customers are reporting

Most reports come from anonymous posts on Reddit and X, and CNBC noted some images online are fake, so the rate of failure is unknown. The New York Post quoted two posters. One, in Australia, said the screen cracked after about six hours and fewer than 20 openings; a store swapped it on the spot. Another, in Dallas, said the hinge became tight, then popped, and an Apple Store swapped it at no charge. That second poster said his carrier warned that replacing through it could put him at the back of a January order queue. We could not verify either account.

Repair firm iFixit, after a teardown, said many reports describe a crunch while folding or unfolding, and that the hinge is shaped differently where the damage appears. Its technician said that is a theory, not a confirmed cause. An industrial designer quoted by the Post cautioned that a bright line shows the display failed but not why.

If you bought one

• Contact AppleCare or visit an Apple Store at the first sign of lines, a crunch or a stiff hinge. Apple says replacement is covered under the warranty.
• If you bought through a carrier or an installment plan, ask who handles the swap and how long it takes before you ship anything. Store swaps were faster in the accounts above.
• If you are still deciding, check the return window and AppleCare terms before you buy, and price the $999 out-of-warranty repair into the decision.
• Keep your receipt and take photos of any damage.

Why it matters for Apple

Screen failures have dogged foldables since 2019, when early Samsung units cracked in reviewers' hands, CNBC noted, and they are widely seen as a barrier to adoption. Apple's stock was not the subject of the reports; in our chart data from Yahoo Finance, shares sat at $343.91 on Oct. 26, 1.2% below the Oct. 22 peak. For the larger picture, see our Apple stock explainer.

We will update this story if Apple gives a failure rate or a cause.

Sources: CNBC; New York Post; Reuters, Bloomberg, CNET and The Next Web headlines confirming the replacement offer; stock data via Yahoo Finance. User accounts are unverified. This is news information, not investment advice.