Apple’s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, is facing early durability concerns after users reported cracked inner displays around the hinge shortly after the device’s launch.
Images circulating on Reddit, MacRumors forums and other social media platforms show damage along the folding area, with some affected screens displaying a bright white line of pixels.
One Australian owner claimed the device’s screen cracked after just six hours of ownership and fewer than 20 openings.
In a Reddit post, the owner said the incident occurred while opening the phone to show a friend. The user reportedly felt something beneath the display near the internal hinge before hearing a crack as the screen broke.
The owner said there were no visible marks on the inner display or external hinge to suggest that an object had become trapped or that the phone had suffered external damage.
Apple replaces damaged phone
The customer said Apple initially offered an express replacement but required a hold for the phone’s full purchase price and could not provide a definite delivery date.
The owner subsequently visited a nearby Apple Store, where staff apologised and replaced the damaged device immediately.
Despite being satisfied with Apple’s response, the customer expressed disappointment at having to visit a store on the evening of the phone’s launch to resolve the problem.
Reddit moderators marked the report as verified after reviewing additional photographs and Apple documentation. However, they clarified that the verification confirmed the damaged phone and its replacement, not the cause of the screen failure.
Similar damage reported elsewhere
Other images of damaged iPhone Duo displays have surfaced online, including reports involving demonstration units in China.
Technology commentator @flyosity said on X that they had seen seven photographs showing similar damage, alongside multiple videos on TikTok.
The images appear to show damage concentrated around the hinge, raising questions about the durability of the phone’s folding display.
However, the reports do not establish how frequently such failures are occurring among devices sold or whether the affected phones share a common defect.
MacRumors also reported that some reviewers had subjected the device to repeated folding tests without encountering display problems. Those tests, however, involved a limited number of units.
Cause of screen damage remains unclear
The concentration of damage around the hinge has prompted speculation that an internal component could be exerting pressure on the display. The theory remains unconfirmed.
Available photographs and user accounts do not establish whether the reported failures stem from a manufacturing defect, a design issue, accidental damage or another cause.
It is also unclear whether the incidents are linked to a particular production batch or affect a broader range of devices.
Apple had not publicly confirmed the cause of the reported failures in the sources reviewed by Gulf News as of October 25, 2026.
Further investigation and additional verified reports will be needed to determine whether the incidents represent isolated cases or a wider reliability concern for Apple’s first foldable smartphone.