Apple Issues Guidance on iPhone Duo Screen Cracks, Outlining Repairs and Replacements [Daily IT Item]

[Financial News] Apple has reportedly drawn up guidelines for service centers on handling issues involving cracks in the inner display of its first foldable smartphone, the 'iPhone Duo.'
According to foreign media reports on the 31st, Apple instructed employees at Apple Stores and authorized service centers to inspect devices whose users reported display issues and to repair or replace them under existing procedures. Apple has now provided more specific guidance for its service staff in response to durability concerns raised shortly after launch.
The U.S. IT outlet MacRumors reported the previous day that Apple had sent an internal memo to Apple Stores and authorized service centers this week. The memo said that when a screen-crack report is received, staff should inspect the device and handle it through the usual service procedures. Apple previously said that screen issues had occurred in some devices and that affected users could contact AppleCare to inquire about a replacement.
Reports of screen issues began appearing online, including on social media, shortly after the iPhone Duo launched. Photos and videos posted publicly showed cracks near the hinge on the inner display or a bright line running from the center of the screen toward the right. 
Apple said only a small number of devices had been affected, but did not disclose the cause of the defect or the total number of cases. Electronics repair specialist iFixit suggested, based on a teardown analysis, that pressure may have been placed on the screen because the central support inside the hinge did not retract sufficiently.
Reviews in foreign media also discussed usability challenges with the first-generation foldable device, in addition to screen durability. The U.S. IT publication WIRED noted that at 254 grams, it is heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and that users cannot adjust the aspect ratio when displaying two apps side by side. Some reviews also said that certain third-party apps are not optimized for the wide inner display, which can leave black bars or make the layout look awkward. 

[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter