Apple addresses reports of cracked screens on $2K iPhone Duo just days after frenzied launch

Apple has acknowledged a problem with the inner screens of its new $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo after customers reported cracks and bright lines appearing near the hinge — in some cases within hours of unboxing the pricey gadget.The tech giant said Monday that it would replace affected devices — just three days after the highly anticipated phone went on sale Friday, drawing massive crowds and overnight lines outside Apple stores across the country.“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.”An Australian buyer posting as Midnight_Slump on Reddit said his Duo’s screen cracked after roughly six hours of ownership and fewer than 20 openings.The customer said he felt something beneath the display near the hinge while showing the device to a friend, then heard an audible crack as he continued unfolding it.After Apple offered an express replacement that required a hold for the full price of the phone, he went to a nearby Apple Store, where employees swapped the damaged handset for a new one on the spot.“Day zero, six hours of ownership, and already on my second phone,” he wrote.In Dallas, a Reddit user identified as leftyhyzer16 said his Duo’s hinge became unusually tight after being folded about four times during setup, then made a loud pop when he pushed past the resistance.The customer said AT&T warned that replacing the phone through the carrier could push him to the back of the order queue in January.“Drove down to the Dallas Apple Store and they thankfully had one in stock and swapped it out immediately, no charge,” he wrote.The complaints threaten to cast a shadow over Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market, where durability has long been a concern.“At $1,999, confidence is part of the product,” Ravi Sawhney, founder and CEO of indus...