iPhone Duo screens cracking days after launch

Apple's first foldable smartphone has begun cracking in the hands of early buyers, and the company has now confirmed the defect. The iPhone Duo launched on Oct. 23 with a starting price of $1,999. Within hours of the release, owners reported visible cracks along the center of the folding display.

The damage appears in a consistent location for many users. Several owners describe cracks forming right at the hinge, where the device folds. Some reported hearing unusual noises before the screen failed. Others noticed bright white lines spreading across the display from the fold toward the right side.

Apple acknowledged the problem on Oct. 26. The company stated it is aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. Apple has instructed affected owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement. This move offers a path to repair for customers who have already experienced the failure.

Specific user accounts illustrate the speed of the failures. One Reddit user, u/leftyhyzer16, said the screen cracked before the initial setup was complete, after opening and closing the phone only a few times. Another user, u/Midnight_Slump, reported a failure within six hours and received a verified replacement from Apple. A third owner, u/chimchambam, saw the display fail after just three hours. That user was initially turned away by an Apple Store before successfully returning the phone through Verizon.

The cause of the cracks remains unclear to Apple, which has not disclosed how many devices are affected. Repair experts at iFixit took the iPhone Duo apart and used CT scans to examine the hinge. They spotted a small support bar that may not move far enough out of the way when the phone folds. If the display presses against that bar, it could put enough pressure on the screen to cause a crack. iFixit has not confirmed this theory, and Apple has not explained the mechanism behind the failures.

Repairing the device outside of warranty is costly. iFixit gave the iPhone Duo a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10. The company reported that an out-of-warranty inner-screen repair costs $999. This price is roughly half the starting cost of the phone. Apple says customers affected by this specific display issue do not need an AppleCare+ subscription to request help for the acknowledged defect.

The screen issue is not the only concern for some potential buyers. A Fox News colleague, Chris, switched from a Samsung Galaxy Fold to the iPhone Duo but returned it to Best Buy. He chose an iPhone 18 Pro instead. Chris cited a buggy interface, the lack of Face ID, and camera performance that fell short of his expectations. He described the experience as having "glaring missteps" that added up to questions about whether the device was ready for prime time.

Apple has not responded to requests for additional comment on the cause of the failures. The company's acknowledgment of the defect and the offer of replacements addresses the immediate problem for affected users. The iPhone Duo continues to be sold with a starting price of $1,999.