iPhone Duo screen cracks put Apple’s foldable response under pressure

Apple faces an early test of customer confidence in its first foldable after reports of inner displays cracking along the Duo’s hinge, sometimes within hours of use.

IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo says early display failures highlight the challenges of foldable engineering, but warns against drawing conclusions about the scale of the problem

Apple has acknowledged an issue affecting a small number of iPhone Duo units and advised owners experiencing display problems to contact AppleCare for a replacement. It has not disclosed an affected-unit figure or confirmed the cause.

The problem sppears to be with the hinge under the display. The cracks in all the Duos are appearing in the same location . One user found a bump under the display where the hinge is has a 3D printed cover and around 100 other components, one of which may be damaging the screen.

 Jeronimo said the reports demonstrate that even Apple’s engineering resources and supply chain expertise cannot eliminate the challenges of entering the foldable market.

“The early reports of inner display failures on the iPhone Duo show that even a company with Apple’s engineering resources and supply chain discipline faces a steep learning curve in foldables,” he said.

Reports describe cracks appearing in a similar position along the centre of the hinge, often followed by a bright line of stuck pixels. Several owners claim the failures occurred after only a handful of openings.

“That consistency points to a possible sensitivity in the hinge tolerances or in how the display is supported during the fold,” he said.

However, he cautioned that the available evidence does not establish a fault across the production run.

“The scale is still unknown. Apple has shared no figures, and some of the images circulating online are recycled or altered, so caution is needed before drawing conclusions about the whole production run.”

Replacement response

Some owners have reported receiving replacements in Apple stores, although replacement availability has varied, according to the MacRumors web site.

Jeronimo drew a parallel with the problems experienced by Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold in 2019.

“What matters now is how the company responds,” he said. “We all remember when Samsung experienced problems with the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, but it also showed that a fast and transparent response can contain the damage to a category.”

He welcomed Apple’s instruction to seek a replacement, describing it as “the right first step”.

Warranty clarity

The implications extend beyond Apple’s own sales, with the company’s response potentially influencing confidence in foldable devices more broadly.

“At $1,999, Apple is positioning the Duo as a premium alternative to established foldables, and how it handles this first-generation issue will shape buyer confidence in the category well beyond its own sales,” he said.

Apple’s loyal customer base and retail network give it advantages in managing replacements. A further rollout into 28 markets on October 30 increases the urgency of explaining how affected buyers will be treated.

“Apple has a loyal customer base and a retail network that can swap devices on the spot, but with a further 28 markets launching on 30 October, it needs to clarify its warranty position quickly.”