WASHINGTON—The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced an immediate product recall of all newly shipped units of the Apple Inc. premium foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, citing severe structural hazards.
Government regulators took action after receiving over 4,000 reports of the dual screens snapping shut. The sudden closures occurred without warning. The device reportedly functions like an extremely expensive steel mousetrap. It has already claimed several fingernails in the greater Seattle area.
Severe Pinch Risks Detected
"The hinge mechanism on the iPhone Duo possesses roughly the same closing force as a commercial car door," said Dr. Arthur Pendelton, Chief of Kinetic Safety at the Federal Hardware Administration. "Our lab tests show that normal gravity can trigger a sudden, violent closure. We advise all consumers to stop holding the device immediately."
Affected units include all 128GB and 256GB models of the iPhone Duo sold during the initial launch window. The agency warns that attempting to read an email in portrait mode may result in moderate bone bruising.
Remedy and Replacement Program
"We designed the device to fold," said an Apple spokesperson in a prepared statement. "We did not expect users to keep their soft, organic fingers in the folding zone. However, we will comply with federal guidelines."
Consumers can return their recalled iPhone Duo to any retail location. Technicians will disable the folding mechanism entirely using industrial-grade hot glue. The phone will remain permanently open. This makes it impossible to fit into any standard human pocket.
At press time, Apple stocks rose three percent after the company announced a new $199 protective leather glove accessory to mitigate future hand fractures.
