iPhone Duo: Early Buyers Report Cracked Screen in Same Spot
Seven years after the original Galaxy Fold broke, Apple is releasing its first foldable phone. The first buyers of the iPhone Duo are reporting exactly what you don't want to see: a crack in the inner screen in the same spot on every phone.
Samsung postponed the launch of that first Galaxy Fold at the time after test units failed at the hinge; the solution was a longer protective layer and covered hinge ends. Apple watched from the sidelines the whole time and didn’t release its own foldable until October 23. It’s therefore quite striking that early adopters of the iPhone Duo are now reporting their own issues.
Almost always the same crack
The first report appeared on Reddit, six hours after purchase, and a thread on the MacRumors forum has gathered reports from at least five countries: the United States, Australia, Canada, China, and South Korea. It’s unknown how many devices are affected, but the first cracks appeared within just a few hours of the launch. Not every photo circulating is genuine: some turned out to be reused or edited with AI, so not every spectacular post on X represents a new case.
In an isolated case, you might think the user was careless. He or she pressed too hard on the foldable screen, or something was caught between the screens when it was folded shut. But strangely enough, we see the same pattern in almost all cases: a crack along the fold in the middle, with a bright band of dead pixels running to the right next to it.
Affected consumers almost all report the same thing: after opening it a few times, something seemed to snap inside and the screen cracked. Most owners received a replacement immediately at the Apple Store, but not everywhere: stores in Shanghai and Jacksonville blamed the owner, and anyone requesting a replacement through phone support must first have a deposit equal to the full purchase price blocked.
The hinge as a possible culprit
The exact reason why the screen seems to break in the same spot every time is still unknown. But since Apple showed an image of the interior with all the components during the unveiling of the iPhone Duo, and if we overlay the photos of damaged screens on top of that, we can identify a possible culprit.
Slide the component photo from Apple over the cracks and the hinge is always positioned exactly underneath
The problem seems to occur at the same hinge point every time. Apple has not yet issued an official statement, but did publish a repair document for the Duo on the day it went on sale. It lists “bent or broken hinge” as a symptom, with the only solution being to replace the entire inner screen; there is no diagnostic or software fix. So Apple apparently already anticipated that this particular hinge could fail.
Just bought a Duo? Here are your rights
If your screen cracks within a few days without any drop or impact damage, it’s covered under the one-year manufacturer’s warranty, and Apple should replace or repair the device free of charge. Outside the warranty period, a new inner screen from Apple Netherlands costs €1149; with AppleCare+ (€17.99 per month or €359 for two years), you pay a €99 deductible.
In the Netherlands, you’re also in a stronger position than Apple’s own terms allow: a device with a suggested retail price of €2339 should last a reasonable amount of time, and you can hold the seller to that standard even after the first year. If you ordered online, you can return the iPhone Duo within 14 days without giving a reason. So if you’re unsure, you have two weeks to decide whether to keep the Duo.
