Korean component maker Fine M-Tec says its parts didn’t cause the iPhone Duo inner-screen damage owners have reported. The company makes hinge parts and the metal plates that support foldable OLED panels. The Elec reports that Fine M-Tec is part of Apple’s foldable supply chain.
Fine M-Tec posted the statement on its own website on October 26. It doesn’t name Apple, but The Elec ties it to the iPhone Duo. As reported in English by The Elec, the company said:
The quality issues recently reported in certain products were not caused by defects in components supplied by our company.
Fine M-Tec added that it is considering legal action against claims that blame its components without objective verification.
What Fine M-Tec’s denial means for iPhone Duo owners
A supplier’s denial doesn’t settle what is breaking these screens. The Elec says the precise cause and the extent of the problem have yet to be confirmed. Fine M-Tec’s statement is one party’s position.
The practical advice for owners is unchanged. Apple has said it’s aware of reports involving a small number of devices, and it has told affected owners to contact AppleCare. A component maker’s position has no bearing on that repair or replacement process. If your iPhone Duo shows a crack or lines along the fold, contact Apple now rather than waiting for the blame to be settled.
What’s been reported about the iPhone Duo screen problem
The Elec says owners in the US, Australia and China have reported cracks along the central crease. Others describe bright horizontal lines appearing during folding.
One Australian buyer claimed the screen broke about six hours after first use, after fewer than 20 folds. The buyer reportedly heard a noise near the hinge first, and Apple reportedly replaced that unit.
On scale, AppleInsider ran an informal poll of staff at 20 Genius Bars it trusts. As of October 26, those stores had seen four affected iPhone Duo units come back. That is a small, unscientific sample rather than a failure rate.
Fine M-Tec also supplies related components to Samsung Display, according to The Elec. The iPhone Duo went on sale on October 23, and we first covered owner reports of inner screens breaking at the hinge soon after. For a look at how the phone is put together, see iFixit’s iPhone Duo teardown.
Sources: Fine M-Tec statement, via The Elec, AppleInsider
