Owners report inner-display cracks near hinge within hours of purchase, raising questions about phone’s reliability
Apple’s first foldable iPhone is facing early durability concerns after owners reported cracks in the inner display near the hinge, in some cases within hours of purchase.
Photographs shared on Reddit and technology forums show cracks along the screen’s central fold, with some damaged displays developing bright lines of pixels. However, the cause remains unclear, and the reports do not establish how widespread the problem is.
One Australian customer said their iPhone Duo’s display cracked after approximately six hours of ownership and fewer than 20 openings.
According to MacRumors, the owner felt something beneath the screen near the hinge while opening the phone to show a friend, followed by an audible crack. The customer reported no visible external damage.
Apple initially offered an express replacement, but the owner instead visited an Apple Store and received a replacement device on the spot.
Similar images have circulated online, with Tom’s Guide and Digital Trends reporting complaints involving devices in several markets. However, social media posts alone cannot establish a failure rate or confirm that all reported cases share the same cause.
The complaints have also drawn attention to the phone’s hinge mechanism and dust resistance.
Tom’s Guide covered a durability test by YouTuber JerryRigEverything, which reportedly found dust entering the hinge area. During a subsequent bend test, a green line appeared on the inner display before it stopped responding.
The test involved deliberate physical stress and does not establish that the same damage occurs during normal use.
The location of the reported cracks has prompted speculation about possible pressure from internal hinge components, manufacturing tolerances or trapped debris. None of these explanations has been confirmed.
Users have also taken to X to share their concerns about the device’s durability.
In a post on Saturday, Sam Kohl warned against taking the iPhone Duo to the beach, highlighting concerns about the device’s potential vulnerability to environmental elements. The post can be viewed here.
Another user, fenibook, reported on Friday that two cases of inner-display failure had already emerged on the phone’s launch day, adding that further reports over the following days would help establish whether the problem was more widespread. The post is available here.
Apple had not publicly identified a cause for the reported failures in the coverage reviewed.
The complaints have emerged as the iPhone Duo attracts strong interest following its launch. A separate report highlighted strong demand during the phone’s initial sales period, while another noted limited store availability at launch.
Supply constraints could complicate replacement arrangements for affected buyers, although there is no evidence linking limited availability to the reported screen damage.
For now, the reported failures remain a developing story rather than proof of a widespread defect. More verified cases, technical inspections and an official response from Apple will be needed to determine whether the incidents point to a broader reliability problem.
