An Apple supplier insists that its components aren't the cause of hinge failures that break the screen of the iPhone Duo, as the social media fallout over the fault rolls on.
Following the release of the iPhone Duo, there have been reports of screen breakages, with quite a few highlighting a very common point of failure for the hinge. In an attempt to get ahead of the story, part of Apple's supply chain claims that its components are not the problem.
A statement from Fine M-Tec released on October 26 denies that its components cause the screen damage, reports The Elec. It also urges everyone to avoid a witch hunt for someone to blame until the real cause has been uncovered.
"The quality issues recently reported in certain products were not caused by defects in components supplied by our company," Fine M-Tec insists, without directly mentioning Apple. The supplier adds that it is also considering legal action against anyone making claims about its components without the issue being validated.
Fine M-Tec is a manufacturer of internal hinges and metal plates that are used to support foldable OLED displays. The intention of the plates are to help protect the panel from the stress of folding and unfolding.
The company is known as a supplier of components in that field to Samsung Display, and therefore is part of the foldable smartphone supply chain.
Oh Snap
Consumers and product testers of the destructive variety have repeatedly demonstrated in video and photographs that a fault can occur on the center line. While this is not exceptional on its own, there is a pattern of a horizontal line appearing at one particular point along the center of the display, which goes off to one side.
A closer examination and disassembly of the iPhone Duo has already identified a possible suspect, in the form of a flat element snapping into two pieces during the folding and unfolding process.
This takes place close to the middle of the display, where a small support plate comes close to other elements, including an interconnecting cable between the two halves.
Following the blowing up of the screen cracking issue, Apple has made a brief statement acknowledging it is aware, and for users to contact AppleCare for a replacement.
While it is unclear how many devices are affected, it isn't believed to be a widespread problem for Apple.
After speaking to staff members at 20 Genius Bars that AppleInsider trusts, there have only been four impacted iPhone Duo units returned so far as of October 26. Polling will continue after US stores open.
