What is the problem?
While many iPhone Duo users have had a flawless experience with their new phone, some users have had similar issues with the horizontal and vertical lines appearing on the right side of the interior screen. According to photos on Reddit and social media, the issue appears as a thin vertical line in the middle of the screen accompanied by a thicker line extending horizontally along the right side of the inner screen.
How common is it?
It’s unclear how many units are affected by the screen issue, but there have been widespread reports online from users, as well as from Apple Store demo units. Most users describe the problem occurring simply by opening their phone. One Reddit user claimed they only had their phone “for about six hours and had probably opened it less than 20 times.”
However, as far as we know, this issue has not been noted in any of the review units that Apple sent out before launch, so it could be a manufacturing defect that only affected a certain batch of devices.
Britta O’Boyle/Casting
What is causing the problem?
It’s not entirely clear what exactly is causing the problem, but it appears to be related to the hinge. To investigate the issue during disassembly, iFixit built an exact 3D hinge model and compared it to the reported damage locations. Report:
The breaks are clustered near the transition between the space for the crossover flex cable and the center hinge support. The damage we’re seeing in the photos is not right where the display cable passes through the hinge, but slightly lower down, at a point where several edges meet and change the way the thin display is held as it is folded.
All those edges here mean a lot of potential culprits. That center pivot looks different from the rest of the hinge. Could it be stuck? Could something else be stuck?
What we know is that all of the issues seem to be causing identical screen issues, so it appears to be related to something under the screen.
Has Apple acknowledged the problem?
In a media statement, Apple says it is “aware of an issue affecting the internal display on a small number of iPhone Duo units.” Recommends contacting AppleCare (1-800-APLCARE) for a replacement if a user is having issues with their screen.
