Apple admits flaw in first foldable phone's display
Free replacements promised, but stock already exhausted
Out-of-warranty screen repair costs up to 1.65 million won
Past 'Antennagate' and 'Bendgate' controversies resurface
Apple has officially acknowledged a screen defect in its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, and said it will offer free replacements — but with launch inventory effectively sold out, securing a replacement unit is expected to prove difficult. There are also concerns that consumers could face a steep repair bill of around 1.65 million won ($1,250) once the warranty expires.
Apple said in a statement, cited by Reuters and Bloomberg on Monday (local time), that it was "aware of an issue affecting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units" and that affected users "should receive a replacement through AppleCare."
The iPhone Duo, which went on sale Friday, was engulfed in controversy over screen defects almost immediately after launch. Some users reported on social media that cracks or lines appeared on the inner display along the central hinge when folding and unfolding the device.
Apple did not disclose the specific cause of the defect. Repair and teardown specialist iFixit suggested the problem may stem from stress concentrating on the central support structure — where cables run beneath the display — when the device is folded.
Despite the free-replacement pledge, consumer frustration is expected to persist for now. Initial online stock of the iPhone Duo sold out within minutes of launch, making it difficult to source replacement units. Bloomberg reported that users had been unable to find replacement inventory at Apple retail stores.
Even placing a new order for the iPhone Duo comes with a long wait. Apple is telling new customers that delivery is not expected until late January next year. If replacement shipments are similarly delayed, some consumers may have to go without a phone for an extended period.
The cost of out-of-warranty repairs adds another layer of concern. Apple says users without a separate insurance or extended warranty plan will need to pay $999 to replace the inner display after the standard warranty period ends. In South Korea, the same repair costs 1.65 million won. The standard limited warranty runs one year in the United States and two years in South Korea.
The episode is drawing comparisons to past Apple quality controversies — most notably "Antennagate," the reception problems that plagued the iPhone 4, and "Bendgate," the backlash over the iPhone 6 Plus bending under pressure.
The controversy has been amplified by the confidence Apple executives had publicly expressed in the product. Apple CEO John Ternus had previously dismissed Android-based foldables as "low-quality" and "crude," while Thomas Marieb, Apple's head of hardware engineering, had also voiced strong confidence in the inner display's durability.
Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst at research firm IDC, said the situation shows "that even a company with Apple's enormous engineering resources and robust supply chain faces a steep learning curve in the foldable device space."
sjy@heraldcorp.com
