Apple has acknowledged that some customers who purchased its foldable iPhone Duo have seen the screens on their new smartphones break under regular use since the device launched in dozens of countries on October 23, starting at $3,499 in Australia.
Early Screen Failures and User Reports on Social Media
In the days following the release of Apple’s first-ever foldable handset, buyers took to Reddit and other social media platforms to report that internal screens cracked along the center crease. Users described opening the device against increased resistance from the hinge, frequently hearing an audible “pop” or cracking sound, and seeing a patch or line of bright pixels appear across the right side of the display. One user in Australia, writing on Reddit under the username Midnight_Slump, reported that their Duo cracked within six hours of ownership while being shown to a friend, resulting in a white strip of light running along one half of the screen. Another user, leftyhyzer16, stated that their screen cracked during the setup process after being folded roughly four times before the hinge grew tight and made a loud pop.
Apple Offers Replacements for iPhone Duo Display Failures
Apple issued a statement confirming that it is “aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units.” The company maintained that the overall response from early users has been “incredibly positive” and that demand has been extraordinary. Apple advised customers experiencing screen failures to contact AppleCare for a replacement device. In Australia, at least one customer reported that their local Apple store replaced the damaged phone immediately, while Bloomberg noted similar user complaints originating in the United States and India.
Engineering Analysis and Hinge Mechanics Examined by iFixit
Repair platform iFixit conducted a teardown of the iPhone Duo and identified potential vulnerabilities within the complex hinge mechanism, which contains more than 100 separate components. Lead technician Shahram Mokhtari stated that breakages appear to occur where a flexible cable and multiple edges coincide. The teardown suggested that a central support bar under the display may fail to retract properly as the screen bends, creating a mechanical stress hotspot near the reported break location. Mokhtari also observed that dust can penetrate the moving parts of the hinge despite the device holding an IP68 rating for dust resistance, though some units failed straight out of the box before exposure to dust or external elements.
Industry Response and Market Impact in Australia
Industry analysts have urged caution regarding the scale of the hardware faults. Francisco Jeronimo, vice-president of data and analytics at IDC, noted that display issues are relatively common during initial product rollouts, pointing to Samsung’s 2019 Galaxy Fold launch as a precedent where rapid and transparent manufacturer responses helped contain category damage. CCS chief analyst Ben Wood similarly stated that there is currently no evidence of a widespread systemic failure. Prior to the release of the iPhone Duo, Australian technology analyst firm Telsyte estimated that foldable devices accounted for approximately 5 percent of local smartphone sales, with industry observers anticipating the Apple device would drive the foldable form factor into the mainstream despite global shipping delays extending into early 2027.
Common Questions About iPhone Duo Screen Breakages
How many iPhone Duo units have experienced screen breakages?
Apple has stated that the issue impacts a “small number” of units, though independent repair platforms like iFixit note that exact failure figures are currently held exclusively by Apple.
What specific part of the phone is failing?
Teardowns indicate that the internal flexible OLED screen is cracking near the center crease where it encounters edges and a support bar inside the hinge mechanism during opening.
What should owners do if their screen breaks?
Apple has directed affected customers to contact AppleCare immediately to arrange for a device replacement.
When was the iPhone Duo released?
The foldable smartphone was released globally on October 23, following an initial announcement in September.
More on Apple
A few extra points from Apple:- This issue impacts a very small number of iPhone Duo units.- The issue appears to occur rather quickly after usage.- This is not a recall. https://t.co/iUc4iXTspi
Apple has officially responded to reports of the iPhone Duo’s inner display cracking along the hinge 🚨The company confirms that a small number of devices are affected and says users experiencing display issues should contact AppleCare for a replacementSource: @9to5mac pic.twitter.com/kXPlgaMKRw
Apple acknowledges the iPhone Duo screen cracking issue is real, offers replacementsApple has officially acknowledged reports of inner display cracking on a "small number" of iPhone Duo units, offering replacements even without AppleCare+. This comes after the Rs 3 lakh…
Apple responds to iPhone Duo screen cracking reports.Affected users are advised to contact AppleCare for a replacement, even without AppleCare+ coverage. pic.twitter.com/Xc2rvYUwkp
Worth a look