iPhone Duo Screen Cracks: Apple Confirms Issue, Offers Replacements

Apple's iPhone Duo, the company's first folding phone, started shipping on October 27 after Apple said initial online orders sold out within minutes. Since then, a run of social media posts has raised concerns about cracks appearing on the inner display near the center hinge.

What owners are reporting
Over the weekend of October 24-25, iPhone Duo buyers posted photos showing lines and cracks on the inner folding screen, clustered close to the hinge area. Several owners said the damage showed up within hours or days of normal use rather than after a drop.

Apple's response
Apple acknowledged the reports on October 26, saying in a statement: "We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units." The company did not say what is causing the cracks, only that affected units tend to show the problem quickly.

Free replacements through AppleCare
Apple said it will replace iPhone Duo units that show the display issue. Owners who notice cracking or lines on the inner screen are being told to contact AppleCare to arrange a replacement rather than pay for an out-of-warranty repair.

What iFixit found inside the hinge
Repair site iFixit combined teardown footage, patent filings, and CT scans to build a 3D simulation of the iPhone Duo's hinge. It found that the reported cracks cluster just below a point where a display cable runs under the screen, near a central support bar. iFixit's working theory is that the bar may not clear the screen fully when the phone folds, creating a stress point at that spot.

Still one of the more repairable foldables
Despite the hinge concern, iFixit's teardown also concluded the iPhone Duo is the most repairable folding phone it has tested to date, with components that are easier to access and replace than on most rival foldables.

Apple's first foldable, under early scrutiny
The iPhone Duo is Apple's first entry into a foldable phone category that Samsung and other Android makers have sold for several years. Because it is a first-generation design, the hinge and inner display are getting unusually close attention from reviewers and repair specialists in the days right after launch.

Limited in-store stock arriving
Apple is also reportedly bringing a limited number of iPhone Duo units into physical stores this week, giving buyers who skipped the online order rush a first chance to see the hinge and inner display in person.

Protect your iPhone Duo with a Komodoty case
A folding phone with a display this exposed is worth pairing with a case built for it from day one. Komodoty makes slim cases for the iPhone Duo in materials like aramid fiber and slim wood with a Kevlar core, cut precisely around the hinge and cameras and compatible with wireless charging. See the fitted options in the Komodoty iPhone Duo case collection.