Following the global release of Apple’s first foldable smartphone—the iPhone Duo—early buyers and retail stores are reporting instances of the internal display cracking along the central hinge.
The reports, which first emerged on Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and tech forums like MacRumors, have raised questions regarding the long-term durability of the $2,000 device’s foldable screen.
Early Reports and User Experiences
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Cracks Along the Crease: Photos shared online show hairline cracks forming directly along the inner display’s fold line. In many cases, these structural cracks are accompanied by bright vertical or horizontal lines of dead pixels stretching across the panel.
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Minimal Usage Before Failure: Several owners claim their screens failed after minimal use. One widely cited post from an Australian buyer detailed the inner display breaking after fewer than 20 folds and under six hours of ownership. The user reported hearing a distinct cracking sound during a routine opening despite no visible foreign debris or external impact marks.
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Apple Store Demo Units: Reports from tech publications, including The Verge and MacRumors, indicate that a few demo units in Apple Stores—specifically in China and Australia—have also shown similar display defects near the hinge mechanism.
Cause and Scale: What We Know So Far
It remains unclear whether these incidents stem from a fundamental design defect, a quality control issue in early manufacturing batches, or isolated user handling.
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Apple’s Response: While Apple has not issued a formal public statement regarding a widespread fault, customers who brought affected units to Apple Stores have reported receiving immediate full-device replacements under the standard warranty.
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Engineering Review: Analysts note that Apple is actively collecting damaged units from early buyers and retail outlets to analyze the failure points near the folding mechanism and determine if manufacturing adjustments are required.
What It Means for Buyers
For prospective buyers, hardware damage resulting from normal folding operation without external impact is generally covered under Apple’s standard 1-year limited warranty and AppleCare+. Additionally, customers purchasing directly from Apple retain the standard 14-day return policy.
