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Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is facing early complaints from buyers who say its inner display cracked within hours or days of use. The reports began soon after the phone went on sale in stores on 23 October 2026.
According to Bloomberg’s report, affected users heard a crunching sound as they unfolded the phone. A large crack then appeared along the centre crease of the display. Some customers also reported other faults, including a white patch or malfunction on the right side of the screen.
Photos from Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York showed the devices on display on the first day of in-store sales. Reports of screen failures started circulating among early buyers within days.
Scale of the problem unclear
It is not yet clear how many units are affected. Several customers have independently described the same sequence of a crunch, then a crack along the crease and, in some cases, visual defects. That points to a recurring issue rather than isolated cases of rough handling, though Apple has not confirmed this. Apple has not issued a detailed public response, and the cause has not been established.
Crease was already under scrutiny
The crease had drawn attention before launch. Apple says the inner display uses a nano-texture finish designed to reduce glare and minimise the visibility of the crease, rather than claiming to remove it. Rumours suggested the screen is thinner beneath the crease so that it opens flatter and hides the fold. A hands-on video from a Weibo user showed the area around the crease feeling very soft compared with the rest of the screen. It remains unclear whether that makes the area more vulnerable to damage.
Apple’s hardware engineering vice president, Kate Bergeron, has said the display has a replaceable cover layer on top. One report put the cost of a screen repair at $1,000 without AppleCare Plus. Whether the reported cracks involve the top layer or deeper components has not been established.
High-profile launch
The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s entry into foldable phones. Demand was strong, and some pre-order shipping estimates stretched into early 2027, which is why early durability complaints have drawn particular attention.
Foldable screens bend along a central hinge and are more complex than conventional smartphone displays. Failures along the crease suggest stress or weakness at that point, while the crunching sound could indicate a mechanical problem during unfolding.
What affected users can do
Customers who experience these faults are likely to seek repair or replacement under warranty. Apple has not said what coverage applies to cracked displays. Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is facing early complaints from buyers who say its inner display cracked within hours or days of use. The reports began soon after the phone went on sale in stores on 23 October 2026.
Foldable screens bend along a central hinge and are more complex than conventional smartphone displays. Failures along the crease suggest stress or weakness at that point, while the crunching sound could indicate a mechanical problem during unfolding.
What affected users can do
Customers who experience these faults are likely to seek repair or replacement under warranty. Apple has not said what coverage applies to cracked displays.
, Kate Bergeron, nano-texture display, foldable phones, Apple Fifth Avenue
English (US) ·