iPhone Duo Replacement Units Run Short as Screen Cracks Pile Up

Apple’s first foldable is now short of the units it needs to fix its own defect. iPhone Duo replacement requests for cracked inner screens are stalling at some Apple Stores because the phone is still badly supply constrained, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on November 1. Some owners get a new unit on the spot, while others are told their store has no stock to swap.

Why iPhone Duo Replacement Units Are Hard to Get

Apple acknowledged the problem on October 26, a few days after the phone went on sale. “We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement,” the company said in a statement to 9to5Mac.

The catch is that those replacement phones come from the same small pool as new sales. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman wrote that limited inventory has complicated the process, with some stores unable to offer an immediate exchange. He added that going through AppleCare may work better in some cases than walking into a store and asking for a swap.

On his Power On podcast, Gurman said Apple sent about 80% of its initial iPhone Duo stock to its retail stores, leaving roughly 20% for online deliveries and pickup orders. Depending on location, stores received about 50 to 250 units for launch day. Online delivery estimates slipped into January 2027 within minutes of preorders opening on October 16, and Gurman said most affected owners he knows are still waiting for a replacement.

What Is Causing the Cracks?

Owners have reported cracks running along the center of the inner display, right at the hinge. Apple has not named a cause, but a teardown by JerryRigEverything pointed to a hinge component that may press on the panel from behind. Apple says most units are not affected and that the fault tends to show up soon after a phone goes into use rather than developing months later.

Apple has also reportedly sent repair guidance to stores and service providers to help technicians spot affected phones.

What iPhone Duo Owners Should Do

• Contact AppleCare first if your inner screen shows a line or crack along the fold, instead of waiting for a walk-in swap.
• You do not need AppleCare+ to get this replacement, according to 9to5Mac.
• If you bought the phone from a carrier, contact AppleCare directly rather than the carrier.

A Supply Problem That Reaches Beyond Launch Week

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the US and launched on October 23 in more than 70 countries and regions, earlier and wider than Apple had originally planned according to Gurman. Production is concentrated at Foxconn in China, and the initial order of about 8 million units stretches into 2027, so tight stock could keep replacements slow for weeks.

The timing also matters for rivals. Samsung is already preparing its next book style foldable, with the Galaxy Z Fold 9 under-display camera among the expected changes.

Apple, meanwhile, is lining up more hardware such as a new iPad Air with an OLED screen for 2027. For now, Apple’s bigger task is getting working foldables into the hands of people who already paid for one.