Apple’s first foldable smartphone reached consumers on Friday, but early reports of cracked screens along the folding hinge have surfaced alongside long lines and high resale markups worldwide.
The $1,999 iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch matte internal display and a titanium design, marking the tech giant’s entry into a product segment dominated for years by rivals like Samsung and Huawei. While reviewers broadly lauded the mechanical engineering of the hinge, social media posts and forum discussions began highlighting display failures within hours of the launch.
Early Screen Failures
Multiple users on Reddit and MacRumors forums posted images and accounts detailing cracked panels along the folding crease. An Australian owner reported that his screen broke after opening the phone fewer than 20 times over six hours of use, noting an audible snap and internal resistance before a line of bright pixels appeared across the panel, MacRumors reported. Apple Store staff replaced the device immediately.
Other images circulating online showed damaged inner displays on demo units in China, where the device launched several hours before U.S. stores opened. It remains unclear how many units are affected or whether foreign objects or user handling contributed to the early damage. Standard hardware failures from normal use remain covered under Apple’s one-year limited warranty, and launch-day buyers have a two-week window for returns.
The New York Post reported that it contacted Apple for comment on the user complaints.
Critical Praise and Trade-Offs
Tech critics offered mixed verdicts on the hardware and software experience. While outlets such as Wired and Engadget praised the nearly imperceptible crease and smooth movement of the hinge, reviewers cited notable compromises. At 254 grams and 11.3 millimeters thick folded, the device drew criticism for its bulk and its relatively cramped 5.4-inch outer screen.
Productivity software also divided testers. The Wall Street Journal argued that the Duo provides “Too Much iPhone, Too Little iPad,” pointing to software restrictions. Multitasking limits the inner screen to a fixed 50-50 split between two apps, without floating window options available on rival Android devices and iPads. In addition, several third-party applications displayed thick black bars on either side of the expanded panel rather than adjusting to the full tablet size.
Camera performance presented another sticking point. Despite the device’s record price tag for an iPhone, reviewers found its main cameras trailed the iPhone 18 Pro in low-light conditions, while Gizmodo reported washed-out results from the 4-megapixel camera hidden beneath the internal screen.
Global Demand and Durability Testing
Despite the high price and early complaints, retail interest appeared strong, particularly in mainland China, which represents the world’s largest market for foldable devices. Outside Apple’s flagship store in Beijing’s Sanlitun shopping district, scalpers offered buyers premiums of 3,000 Chinese yuan, or about $448, to purchase devices directly outside the doors, CNBC reported. New online orders in China showed estimated shipping delays stretching into January 2027.
To assess long-term reliability, independent labs have begun testing the hardware. CNET purchased an iPhone Duo on Friday at a retail store in Louisville, Kentucky, and installed it into a custom automated testing rig dubbed the Fold-a-Phone. The automated machine opens and closes the handset on a continuous four-second cycle to determine how many folds the internal screen and mechanical hinge can survive before failure.
Whether the scattered launch-day fractures represent isolated production anomalies or a wider defect in Apple’s folding mechanism remains to be seen as more buyers receive shipments in the coming weeks.
