Apple faces ‘Crackgate’ as complaints surge over cracked screens on iPhone ‘Duo’

[Financial News]  

Apple’s foldable iPhone, the ‘Duo,’ which sold out on the first day of preorders and became a runaway hit, is starting to turn into a nightmare.
The Financial Times (FT) reported on the 27th (local time) that Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the ‘Duo,’ was grappling with what is being called ‘Crackgate’ just days after its launch. Consumers have been voicing complaints in droves about cracks appearing where the screen folds. As a result, some say confidence in the durability of Apple’s hardware is also beginning to crack.
Apple said it was aware of cracks in a ‘small number’ of devices after launching the Duo on the 23rd. Apple said, “We are aware of an issue affecting the inner screens of a small number of iPhone Duos,” and added, “Users experiencing issues with the iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for an exchange.”
Over the past week, videos have been appearing on social media around the world showing the same horizontal cracks forming when devices are opened about two-thirds of the way.
The number of affected devices is unknown, but ‘Crackgate’ is bringing back memories of earlier iPhone launch disasters.
In 2010, iPhone 4 users complained that calls were dropping midway or that the signal was weak. It became known as ‘Antennagate.’ Steve Jobs, then CEO, initially dismissed the complaints, saying they happened because people were “holding the phone the wrong way,” but later gave away smartphone cases for free to address the issue. The free cases had an outer rim made of rubber and plastic to help mitigate poor reception.
Apple has yet to announce a recall of the ‘Duo.’ In the past, it has addressed problems through service and exchange programs rather than recalls.
The Duo, launched this month at more than $2,000 (about 2.65 million won) per unit, represents the most striking design change in the nearly 20-year history of the iPhone. Apple did not bring out its first foldable smartphone until seven years after its archrival Samsung Electronics launched the Galaxy Fold.
Foldable phones have yet to shake off durability problems. Samsung also encountered similar issues early on when it launched its first foldable phone in 2019.
John Ternus, who became Apple’s new CEO last month, succeeding Tim Cook, faced a challenge from the outset. He said Apple had delayed the launch to perfect the complex technology needed to create a smooth inner display and a durable screen hinge instead of releasing a device that was “cheap and shoddy.” Yet the product failed to avoid such problems, making those words ring hollow.
Francisco Jeronimo, vice president at market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC), said the Duo’s problems “show that even companies like Apple, with their technological resources and tightly managed supply chains, have no choice but to face a steep learning curve in foldables.” In other words, acquiring the technology and know-how through trial and error is a steep and arduous process.
Jeronimo added that reports of cracked iPhone screens continue to appear online, suggesting a structural problem with the hinge or the way the display is supported.

[email protected] Song Kyung-jae Reporter