Apple is facing backlash over iPhone Duo screen defects days after its first foldable device hit global market shelves. The company has acknowledged manufacturing defects and is offering free replacements to affected consumers.

Reports say Apple has secured initial batches of replacement stock for the iPhone Duo at authorized service centers across South Korea, moving swiftly to contain growing consumer backlash over internal display failures.

Korean service hubs have received limited replacement inventory to address complaints of screens cracking along the folding crease or developing sudden white lines shortly after unboxing, as per local news outlet Newsis.

Apple has secured a portion of iPhone Duo replacement stock at domestic authorized Apple service centers in South Korea. This development comes amid consumer complaints that product replacements are being delayed due to initial shortages of the iPhone Duo.

Industry analysts suggest that diverting crucial components toward replacement units could further strain retail sales pipelines if the defect rate scales beyond initial estimates.

Earlier this week, Apple acknowledged the issues in some units, stating “We are aware of an issue affecting the internal display in a small number of iPhone Duo units,” advising users experiencing display problems to contact AppleCare for a replacement.

iFixit points toward potential mechanical stress points near the central hinge mechanism during the unfolding process; Apple has yet to specify the root cause or quantify the total number of malfunctioning devices.

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Whether these localized shipments can absorb the impending surge in warranty claims remains an open question as Cupertino balances new sales demand against damage control.

Samsung officially launched the Galaxy A08 in India, but it doesn’t seem to be a budget smartphone anymore. The price set for the base RAM and storage configuration is pretty high and difficult to justify in a competitive market.

The memory cost hike has crushed the budget and mid-range smartphones. Not Samsung, but Chinese phone makers have also trimmed their models, and prices went up significantly as memory plays a key role in the bill of materials.

Galaxy A08 is priced at INR 18499 (~ $195) in India for 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The company hasn’t mentioned higher RAM and storage configurations. It seems the device will be offered in a single setup, that too at a high price.

Samsung says consumers can purchase the Galaxy A08 in Dark Blue, Silver, and Green colorways via Samsung Exclusive Stores, partner stores, Samsung.com, and other online platforms.

Display, processor, camera and battery specs

Samsung’s new phone sports a 6.7-inch HD+ PLS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, while the rear panel boasts a Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) back for durability.

Additionally, the device’s rear is defined by a Linear Grouped Camera design for a distinct Galaxy look, along with Key Island 2.0, a functional side ridge that holds its physical control buttons, including its volume rocker.

Galaxy A08 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99+ mobile chipset, offering up to 84% higher single-core CPU performance, 43% higher multi-core CPU performance, and 60% higher GPU performance compared to A06 (not A07).

Camera setup includes a 50MP wide-angle rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2MP depth camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The 8MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture ensures crisp selfies and clear video calls.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A08 packs a 6000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. Samsung promised six major OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

AI features

Running One UI 9, the Galaxy A08 brings select AI-powered features, such as Circle to Search 3.0 and AI agents such as Gemini and Perplexity. Quick Share and Modes and Routines are also highlights of the launch press release.

Samsung has been fined around $15.1 million for reducing the gaming performance of its Galaxy smartphones. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) imposed a fine of 20.1 billion won on the company for its advertising claims and performance limits.

The issue started a few years ago with the Galaxy S22 series. Samsung phones used a feature called Game Optimizing Service (GOS), which automatically started when users opened certain popular games. This feature reduced the phone’s performance to control heat and prevent overheating.

However, reports suggested that the service could reduce performance to as low as 30% of the phone’s potential in some situations. This disappointed gamers who had paid a high price for powerful smartphones and expected smooth gaming.

Source – Samsung Mobile Press

Samsung had advertised its phones by promising an “ultimate mobile gaming experience.” However, the KFTC said the advertisements did not clearly explain that the phones could limit gaming performance.

Samsung has also faced a class-action lawsuit from Galaxy users in South Korea over the same issue. The company has argued that no court has found that consumers suffered harm because of its advertisements.

Although the fine is relatively small for a company as large as Samsung, the decision highlights the importance of honest advertising. Customers expect their phones to deliver the performance promised by manufacturers.

Following the controversy, Samsung also gave users the option to turn off GOS, allowing them to have more control over their phone’s gaming performance.

Samsung is helping families spend more quality time together by turning the living room TV into a place for fun and games. According to new research by Ipsos for Samsung, 79% of parents want to spend more quality time with their children. Also, 87% say the holiday season is an important time for family activities.

However, finding activities that everyone enjoys can be difficult. The research found that 58% of parents struggle to find activities the whole family likes, while 80% want easy ways to spend time together at home. To solve this problem, Samsung is bringing more fun to family time through Samsung Gaming Hub on compatible Samsung Smart TVs.

Samsung Gaming Hub gives users access to thousands of games through popular game streaming services, including Amazon Luna. Its GameNight collection allows family members to use their smartphones as game controllers.

Getting started is simple. Users need to open Samsung Gaming Hub on their TV, launch Amazon Luna, sign in and choose a game. They can then follow the instructions on the screen to connect their smartphones and start playing.

Families can enjoy quizzes, word games and fun competitions together. No gaming console, special controller or gaming experience is required. Amazon Prime members can also play GameNight titles and enjoy a rotating selection of games through Luna Standard at no extra cost.

Samsung has seen strong growth in casual and party gaming, with unique users playing these games on Samsung TVs increasing by over 90% in North America and more than 200% worldwide in the past year.

With Samsung Gaming Hub, families can turn screen time into shared fun and create happy memories together.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro series overall sales grew in the first three weeks after launch, but demand in the US and Japan cooled down quickly. The yen-to-USD exchange rate and cautious spending have led the new iPhones to slip in key markets.

Counterpoint Research reports that the Apple iPhone 18 Pro series flagged YoY sales growth during the first three weeks following its launch. Overall sales of the two models jumped 3.1% over the iPhone 17 Pro series in the same period.

The tremendous sales in China have helped Apple’s new flagship devices to improve sales on an overall scale. China alone handed Apple an incredible 29% YoY increase in sales, offsetting weakness in Japan and the US.

Counterpoint says Apple’s rise in the Chinese smartphone market was driven by better early supply compared with last year and by price increases on competing flagship models from Chinese Android smartphone makers.

The US and Japan experienced a YoY decline, affected by higher prices compared with their predecessors. The iPhone 18 Pro Max accounted for 56% of sales within the iPhone 18 Pro series, a slight decrease from 57% last year.

Associate Director Sujeong Lim commented, “Whether China’s outperformance reflects durable demand or front-loaded buying will become clearer in the coming weeks. The recovery of US and Japanese volumes, and whether the iPhone Duo launching in Week 43 will generate incremental demand rather than cannibalising Pro Max, are the two most consequential near-term variables.”

Meanwhile, the memory crunch and component shortage are forcing Apple and Samsung to cut their mobile production targets. Samsung is reportedly trimming Galaxy A production by up to 25%, risking its smartphone crown.

• Why Samsung is risking its smartphone crown for profit