Hot debut, mixed early app support
Apple's first foldable hit stores on Friday, priced from $1,999, and demand showed up as queues and long pre-order delays. Early reviewers liked the Duo when opened up for multitasking and watching video, but also noted that many apps were not yet tuned to the larger, wider screens. On Monday, Apple said apps are already being updated for the new form factor. "The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor," an Apple representative said.
Reports of screen failures and Apple's remedy
Some first-weekend buyers say their inner displays failed, with bright horizontal lines radiating from the hinge area. Many of the reports surfaced as anonymous posts on Reddit and X, and bogus images are also making the rounds. Apple confirmed Monday it knows about the problem affecting a "small number" of iPhone Duo units and will replace impacted devices through AppleCare.
"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 lists a $999 price for an inner-screen repair if the phone is out of warranty.
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Teardown hints at the hinge
iFixit took the Duo apart on Sunday and put it through dust testing, then suggested the hinge geometry could be involved. "Many of these damage reports describe folding or unfolding the phone, hearing a crunch, and pushing past it," iFixit technician Shahram Mokhtari said in the teardown video.
The bigger foldable picture for your portfolio
Fragile foldable screens are not new. Back in 2019, reviewers found that the inner display on an early Samsung folding phone cracked under routine use, a setback that slowed adoption of the category. For investors, two threads matter here: near term, Apple is moving to replace defective units and says developer support is ramping, which can cushion user sentiment; longer term, the durability of the hinge and display will shape return rates and margins on a $1,999-and-up device where a single out-of-warranty screen fix runs $999. The bottom line: watch for Apple's update cadence and any shift in repair or warranty costs as tells on how the Duo's hardware risk is tracking.
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