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 Apple Store demo units. Most users describe the issue occurring simply by opening their phone. One Reddit poster claimed they only had their phone ”for about six hours and had probably opened it fewer than 20 times.”
As far as we can tell, however, this problem hasn’t been noticed on any of the review units Apple sent out ahead of the launch, so it could be a manufacturing defect that only affected a certain batch of devices.
Britta O’Boyle/Foundry
What is causing the problem?
It’s not completely clear what exactly is causing the issue, but it appears to be related to the hinge. To investigate the issue during its teardown, iFixit built an exact 3D hinge model and compared it with the reported damage locations. It reports:
The breaks cluster near the transition from the gap for the crossing flex cable to the central hinge support. The damage we’re seeing in photos isn’t right where the display cable passes through the hinge, but slightly lower, at a point where several edges meet and change how the thin display is supported as it bends.
All those edges meeting in this spot mean lots of possible culprits. That center pivot looks different from the rest of the hinge. Could it be getting stuck? Could something else be getting stuck?
What we know is that the issues appear to all be causing identical screen problems, so it appears to be related to something under the display.
Has Apple acknowledged the issue?
There are numerous reports of Apple Stores swapping out affected units, but Apple hasn’t issued an official statement or repair program. However, a support page titled “iPhone Duo Troubleshooting Hinge Issues” was published Sunday to offer “steps to help resolve issues,” including:
- Device won’t open or close completely
- Unexpected noise while opening or closing the device
- Loose hinge
- Bent or broken hinge
- Enclosure damage that affects hinge operation
Apple suggests referring to the iPhone Duo user guide “for device hinge handling and safety guidance,” as well as removing third-party cases or screen protectors, and checking for “particles or dust along the hinge and for dents or scratches on the enclosure.”
