iPhone Duo: Apple confirms problems with individual users

Just fold it a few times and then it cracks: Since the iPhone Duo came onto the market last Friday, some users have reported on social media that their device broke after being unfolded just hours or a few days after use and a large crack formed along the center fold.

Other customers complained about display errors such as a white stripe on the right side of the screen.

Apple has now confirmed the problems in a statement, but only a "small number" of devices are affected - and the error usually occurs very quickly.

The manufacturer recommends that affected users contact AppleCare so that the defective devices can be replaced. Customer reports confirm that the devices have been replaced.

The experts at the website iFixit, who disassemble electronic devices to determine whether they can be repaired, suspect that the problem lies with the folding mechanism. This consists of around 100 titanium individual parts and, among other things, ensures that the unfolded screen is tightened. For the user experience of such smartphones, it is important that no annoying creases are visible in the middle.

From iFixit's point of view, the fact that the problems mostly seem to occur in one place suggests that a specific element of the folding mechanism could be responsible for the damage. Some problems also occurred with previous folding smartphones from competitors because the joints are complex and can be prone to errors.

The iPhone Duo is the most expensive iPhone to date with a price starting at 2299 euros. It is currently only available for delivery in January after the first devices were sold out immediately after pre-orders started.