Apple will replace iPhone Duo with screen failure after launch of foldable
The company's first foldable cell phone faces reports of lines, cracks and noise days after its debut, and Apple promises to replace the affected devices.
BY THE X-TRADER NEWS NEWSROOM · REPORTING FROM BBC BUSINESS · 2 MIN
Apple acknowledged that part of the iPhone Duo had screen problems a few days after the device went on sale. According to BBC Business, the company identified a fault with the internal screen of a small number of units and asked affected users to seek support to receive a replacement device.
The model is the company's first foldable and arrives with the mission of reinvigorating the brand's product line and competing for space with foldables from rival manufacturers. The launch drew crowds to Apple stores around the world the week before. In the United Kingdom, the starting price is £1,999, the equivalent of US$2,668, according to the same broadcaster.
Photos published on social media show lines on the device's screen. Other owners have reported cracks in the center crease of the display and a popping noise when opening the phone. One user, Justin Lokos, showed lines on the right side of the screen and then published a second photo, next to the damaged device, thanking an Apple store in New York for the service.
The extent of the problem is not yet clear. Apple did not say how many devices were affected, and some of the images circulating may have been created with artificial intelligence, according to the BBC. Francisco Jeronimo, technology analyst at research consultancy IDC, believes that caution is needed before drawing conclusions.
What's at stake goes beyond a few screen changes. As Apple bets on the foldable to revive the line and face rivals, each public failure draws attention to the quality of a new product just when the company needs to convince buyers.
What changes for the investor
The information published so far does not include the number of affected units, sales volume or replacement costs, and therefore it is not possible to measure the financial impact of the case. The point to monitor is whether the problem is restricted to a small batch or gains scale, as this defines whether the situation becomes a one-off warranty cost or starts to weigh on the perception of the folding line. For those who follow Apple on the Nasdaq, new company announcements and analyst reviews bring more information than speculation about the share price.
Automatically translated from Portuguese.
