The short version
- Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, went on sale October 23 at $1,999 (₹2,99,900 in India).
- Within a day, owners on Reddit and the MacRumors forums were posting inner screens cracked along the hinge, some within hours and one before setup was finished.
- On October 26, Apple confirmed an issue affecting "a small number of iPhone Duo units" and told owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement. AppleCare+ isn't needed.
- Apple hasn't named a cause. An iFixit teardown points to a support bar in the hinge that may not be retracting properly.
What owners are seeing
The reports look much alike. The crack runs along the hinge, often with a line of bright pixels across one side of the 7.6-inch folding screen.
An owner in Australia said the screen broke after about six hours and fewer than 20 openings. They felt something under the display near the hinge, then heard a crack. Another owner in Dallas said the hinge went tight after around four folds, and the screen popped before setup was even done. A third said their six-hour-old Night Sky Duo had a black line and discoloration around the crease.
Image: u/leftyhyzer16 on Reddit
Image: u/Unique_Parsnip_57 on Reddit
How many units are affected is unclear. 9to5Mac counted about 10 unique cases by October 25, and Bloomberg reported a "growing number" of complaints a day later. Both MacRumors and 9to5Mac warned that some images circulating online are AI-generated fakes, so treat viral photos with care.
Image: Zerocade
What Apple said
Apple's statement, given to CNBC, MacRumors and 9to5Mac, opens by calling early reaction to the Duo "incredibly positive". It then says: "We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units." Owners who have problems should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Apple didn't say what causes it or whether a software or hardware fix is coming, and it hasn't announced a recall. According to 9to5Mac, the problem tends to show up soon after purchase, and you don't need AppleCare+ for the replacement. If you bought through a carrier, go to Apple directly. MacRumors and Fortune note that stores have limited replacement stock, so some owners are waiting.
What might be causing it
iFixit tore a Duo down over the weekend of October 24 and 25. One possibility it raised is a centre support bar in the hinge that's meant to retract when the phone opens, but may not be doing so. Reuters, cited by Fortune, noted the damage clusters just below where a display cable crosses under the screen near that bar.
iFixit also listed pressure, a trapped particle, repeated bending or a manufacturing defect as possible causes, and said more investigation is needed. In a dust test, fine particles reached the hinge mechanism despite the phone's IP68 rating. It gave the Duo a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10.
Earlier stress tests were mixed. Joanna Stern ran a review unit through more than 32,000 folds with a machine, and the hinge came out stiffer, not looser. JerryRigEverything's video went worse: sand jammed the hinge so the phone wouldn't close, and a bend test left green lines on the inner screen.
Apple says the hinge is "engineered from more than 100 components", with layers designed to slide past each other to relieve bend stress. Analysts say Samsung Display is the only supplier of the folding panel.
Image: Zerocade
Demand hasn't cooled yet
Pre-orders sold out within minutes on October 16, and US online ship dates for every configuration slipped to late January. Apple's shares fell 1.1% on October 26 as the reports spread. Apple reports its quarterly results on November 2, which may be the next chance for it to say more.
If you just bought one
A failure from normal opening is covered by Apple's one-year warranty, and Apple's statement makes clear it will replace affected units. You also get 14 days to return it.
Out of warranty, Apple lists an inner screen repair at $999 (about ₹95,000), or $99 with AppleCare+. That's still the number that makes AppleCare+ look close to essential on a foldable, since accidental damage isn't part of this replacement offer.
Image: Zerocade
Check the hinge for grit before you open it, as Apple's handling guide advises. If you feel resistance or hear a click, stop and contact Apple rather than forcing it. In India, that means an Apple Store or authorised service provider. Keep your bill handy, because the replacement depends on the phone being within warranty.
