Early iPhone Duo buyers report cracked screens within days of purchase

Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, launched on Oct. 23 with prices ranging from nearly $2,000 to over $3,000. Within days, several owners posted images of cracked inner screens that split across the display near the hinge.

Jesse Dalton of Frisco, Texas, said the screen cracked while he was opening the phone for the first time, describing a "loud pop" and a break that ran through the middle of the display. He received a replacement at a nearby Apple Store within about 30 minutes.

Another buyer, Justin Smith, purchased a Duo as a graduation gift for his wife, Roneshia. She reported that the phone cracked the morning after purchase when she tried to open it. Apple Store staff could not repair the device and offered a replacement, but backorder delays left her waiting.

Apple confirmed it is aware of an issue affecting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units and advised users experiencing the problem to contact AppleCare for a replacement. The company also highlighted positive early feedback from developers adapting apps to the new form factor.

TechRadar editor Lance Ulanoff explained that the folding screen comprises multiple layers, including ultra-thin glass that may be particularly vulnerable. He noted Apple’s prompt acknowledgment of the problem as unusual for the company and said he has not encountered any issues with his own Duo after a week and a half of use. Ulanoff recommended that owners with a damaged device make an appointment at an Apple Store rather than walk in.