iPhone Duo owners report cracks in Apple's first foldable handset

Covered by Aol, New York Post and 9 more since

  • Apple Inc.
  • IFixit
  • Reddit
  • Samsung
  • Apple Store
  • Australia
  • China
A partly unfolded foldable phone on a wooden desk, its inner screen showing a thin bright line near the hinge, in soft morning light.

What happened

Some buyers of Apple's new $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo say the inner screen cracked or showed bright lines near the hinge within hours or days of use, often after a crunching sound while unfolding. Apple says the issue affects a "small number" of units and is telling affected owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement.

Summary

Apple's first foldable phone went on sale Friday, Oct. 23, and by the weekend some owners were reporting broken inner screens. Many describe the same moment: the phone feels stuck or tight while unfolding, there's a crunch or pop, and then a line or crack appears along the center crease, sometimes with a white patch. Bloomberg says it verified the problem with more than half a dozen customers. On Monday, Apple said it was "aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units" and that affected owners should contact AppleCare, Apple's warranty and support service, for a replacement. [2] [4] [6] [7] [10]

Apple says most Duos aren't affected and that faulty units show the defect quickly. It hasn't said what causes it or how many phones are involved. Repair firm iFixit, which took the phone apart, suspects part of the complex hinge, near a cable and the battery edge, may sometimes press on the screen. Others urge caution: designer Ravi Sawhney told the New York Post a bright line alone doesn't reveal the cause. Bloomberg reports Apple has a team investigating, though employees said stores had received no official guidance as of its report. [2] [4] [5] [6] [11]

Getting a new phone has been uneven. Some owners got same-day swaps at Apple Stores, while others found no inventory and waited, or were told to mail their phone in, with some deliveries already pushed to January. Out of warranty, Apple lists an inner-screen repair at $999. Forbes notes Apple hasn't explained how it tells a defect from accidental damage, and suggests owners photograph the phone before seeking help. [2] [4] [5] [6] [10]

Summary written by Vox Populi News from the 11 sources below. See all sources

Key questions

What should I do if my iPhone Duo screen cracks?

Apple says owners with display problems should contact AppleCare for a replacement. Forbes advises photographing the phone first to show there's no impact damage and not attempting a repair yourself. [4] [5]

How much does it cost to fix an iPhone Duo inner screen?

Apple lists $999 for an out-of-warranty inner-screen repair, though owners affected by the acknowledged issue are being offered replacements. Forbes reports AppleCare+ cuts that repair to $99. [2] [4] [5]

What is causing the iPhone Duo screens to break?

Apple hasn't disclosed a cause. iFixit believes a piece of the hinge may be failing and cracking the screen rather than a flaw in the display panel itself. [2] [6] [11]

Sources 11

  1. 1Aol

    1 Reason Apple Could Outperform in 2027

    Demand for Apple's first folding iPhone is off to a hot start. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has outperformed the S&P 500 in 2026, up 28% year to date as of Oct.

    Motley Fool, John Ballard

    Read on Aol (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2New York Post

    Apple addresses reports of cracked screens on $2K iPhone Duo just days after frenzied launch

    Apple has acknowledged a problem with the inner screens of its new $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo after customers reported cracks and bright lines appearing near the hinge -- in some cases within hours…

    Ariel Zilber

    Read on New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3IGN

    This $3 iPhone Duo Game Turns Your $2,000 Device into the World's Most Expensive Toaster, and It Is Just as Weird as It Sounds

    The first batch of iPhone Duos are out in the wild, and a bunch of app developers are finding ways to make the most of its foldable design.

    Rachel Weber

    Read on IGN (opens in a new tab)
  4. 4CNBC

    Apple responds to user reports of broken iPhone Duo screens on new foldable phone

    * Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, hit store shelves on Friday. * Some customers have reported that the inner screen of the phone can break, showing horizontal bright lines emanating…

    MacKenzie Sigalos, Kif Leswing

    Read on CNBC (opens in a new tab)
  5. 5Forbes

    iPhone Duo Screen Crack Makes Surprise Apple Repair Bill Even Worse

    Some iPhone Duo owners are reporting inner screens failing within hours of buying the phone, with a line appearing along the fold.

    Read on Forbes (opens in a new tab)
  6. 6Yahoo! Finance

    Apple's Foldable iPhone Duo Draws Early Complaints of the Screen Cracking

    (Bloomberg) -- The iPhone Duo, one of Apple Inc.'s biggest new products in years, is drawing a growing number of complaints from customers who say the foldable display cracked after just hours or…

    Mark Gurman

    Read on Yahoo! Finance (opens in a new tab)
  7. 7Bloomberg Business

    Apple's Foldable iPhone Duo Draws Early Complaints of the Screen Cracking

    The iPhone Duo, one of Apple Inc.'s biggest new products in years, is drawing a growing number of complaints from customers who say the foldable display cracked after just hours or days of use.

    Mark Gurman

    Read on Bloomberg Business (opens in a new tab)
  8. 8Tom's Guide

    I put the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Fold 8 through a thermal torture test -- here's the winner

    I spent two days with the iPhone Duo in our test labs running our long list of benchmarks, but before turning it over to my colleague for a full review, I wanted to know: How does the iPhone Duo…

    Arif Bacchus

    Read on Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab)
  9. 9CNET

    iPhone Duo Owners: Your Apps Will Look Better Soon

    Apple's first foldable has new screen dimensions, leaving apps with a lot of unused space or awkward cropping. It'll get better over time.

    David Lumb

    Read on CNET (opens in a new tab)
  10. 10Zero Hedge

    "Crackgate" Begins: Apple Aware Of Duo Screens Breaking As Complaints Mount

    The iPhone Duo has a lead time of about 79 days, Bank of America analysts said on Monday.

    Tyler Durden

    Read on Zero Hedge (opens in a new tab)
  11. 11The Verge

    iFixit's look inside the iPhone Duo may explain those broken screens and hinges

    The iPhone Duo is the most repairable foldable yet, but that's not saying much. As is tradition, iFixit has torn open the latest iPhone and laid its parts bare on a table.

    Terrence O'Brien

    Read on The Verge (opens in a new tab)