Apple’s $1,999 Foldable iPhone Duo Faces Early Screen Crack Complaints

According to Bloomberg News, more than half a dozen customers have reported the problem, providing photographs of damaged devices and records of their conversations with Apple support. The complaints initially surfaced on Reddit and other social media platforms.

Affected users described hearing a crunching sound while unfolding their phones, followed by cracks appearing along the centre crease. Some also reported white patches, display lines and other malfunctions on the right side of the inner screen.

Apple acknowledged the issue, saying it was aware of a problem affecting a small number of iPhone Duo devices.

“If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement,” the company said, adding that most devices were unaffected and that the defect appeared quickly in affected units.

Tom Battle, an Apple customer from San Diego, said his phone became harder to unfold before lines appeared across the display. He also described feeling a bump or loose component beneath the screen.

Venture capitalist Jonathan King reported a similar experience, saying he heard a crunch-like noise while opening his device. Although the smaller external display continued to function, he said the inner screen had become unusable and registered touches that he had not made.

Another customer, identified as Centrino31A, told Bloomberg that a crack and discolouration appeared while he was opening the display to read Apple News. He said the phone’s exterior and the inner screen surface remained undamaged, suggesting that the problem originated beneath the display.

The customer said an Apple retail store in Richmond, Virginia, identified the problem as a defect requiring replacement. However, difficulties securing a support appointment and the lack of replacement stock left him waiting for another device.

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, making the reported failures particularly frustrating for customers who expected a premium device with durable hardware.

Repair specialist iFixit believes a failing component in the hinge mechanism may be responsible for the damage, potentially causing the screen to crack from underneath. The suspected cause has not been established as a definitive finding for all affected devices.

The reported defects present a challenge for Apple, which spent more than a decade developing the foldable phone and emphasised its hinge engineering, display technology and efforts to minimise the crease visible when the device is opened.

The iPhone Duo, which went on sale on Friday, marks Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market. Its design combines a smaller external screen with a larger display that unfolds for an expanded viewing experience.

Before launch, Apple Chief Executive John Ternus criticised competing Android foldables as “cheap and crappy,” while hardware engineering chief Tom Marieb urged customers to hold the company accountable for the durability of the screen crease.

Bloomberg said it did not encounter the reported defect on either a review unit supplied by Apple or a separately purchased device.

Apple has faced hardware controversies before, including reports that the iPhone 6 Plus bent easily in 2014 and reception problems associated with the iPhone 4 in 2010. The company ultimately weathered both episodes.

IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said the latest reports highlight the challenges of entering the foldable smartphone market, noting that even a company with Apple’s engineering resources and supply-chain expertise faces a steep learning curve in the category.