Apple confirms some iPhone Duo screen problems after launch

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Apple's first foldable iPhone has barely reached customers, and some owners are already dealing with cracked screens. The iPhone Duo launched on Oct. 23 with a starting price of $1,999. Within hours, complaints began appearing online from people who said their new phones developed cracks along the folding display.

Even more concerning, several reports describe damage appearing in nearly the same location. Some owners say their phones made unusual noises before the screens failed. Others noticed bright white lines spreading across the display. Now Apple has acknowledged the issue and says affected customers can request replacements. However, the company has yet to explain exactly what's causing the failures.

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iPhone Duo screen problems appear days after launch

Apple spent years developing its first folding iPhone. The device opens to reveal a 7.6-inch display, giving people a much larger screen without carrying a separate tablet. When closed, it looks like a compact smartphone with a 5.4-inch outer display. The design generated enormous excitement when Apple introduced it in September. However, that excitement took an unexpected turn shortly after the first phones reached customers.

Multiple iPhone Duo owners have reported cracks developing along the center of the inner display. In several cases, a bright line of damaged pixels extended from the fold toward the right side of the screen. Some owners have shared photos of the damage on Reddit, along with accounts of how quickly their new phones failed.

One owner, u/leftyhyzer16, said the screen cracked before setup was complete, after opening and closing the phone only a few times. Another owner, u/Midnight_Slump, reported a failure within six hours and received a replacement from Apple. Reddit moderators also checked additional photos and Apple paperwork provided by the owner. They confirmed the damaged phone and its replacement were genuine. Meanwhile, u/chimchambam said the display failed after just three hours. That owner reported being turned away by an Apple Store before ultimately returning the phone through Verizon. All three owners described problems appearing after very little use. Their experiences don't tell us how widespread the issue is, but they help explain why these early screen failures are getting so much attention.

Apple acknowledges the cracked iPhone Duo screens

On Oct. 26, Apple acknowledged reports about the damaged displays. In a statement provided to news outlets, the company said: "We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units." Apple has instructed affected owners to contact AppleCare for a replacement. That's encouraging news for anyone whose new phone has already failed, especially considering its $1,999 starting price.

However, Apple hasn't disclosed exactly how many devices are affected or identified what's causing the screens to crack. We also don't know whether the problem involves a manufacturing defect affecting certain phones or something in the overall design. We reached out to Apple for additional comment but did not receive a response before our deadline.

Why are the iPhone Duo screens cracking in the same place?

Here's what caught my attention. Several of the damaged screens appear to crack near the hinge, right where the phone folds. That's a pretty troubling place for something to go wrong on a $2,000 folding phone. So what's happening inside? The repair experts at iFixit took the iPhone Duo apart and used CT scans to get a closer look at its hinge. They spotted something that could help explain the damage. A small support bar may not move far enough out of the way when the phone folds. If the display presses against that bar, it could put enough pressure on the screen to cause a crack.

Now, I want to be clear. This is still a theory. iFixit hasn't confirmed that the support bar caused the reported damage, and Apple hasn't explained what's going wrong. But it does raise questions about how well the hinge and flexible screen work together, especially when people are already reporting similar cracks just days after buying the phone.

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Repairing an iPhone Duo could be extremely expensive

Here's another detail that caught my attention. Although iFixit found that the iPhone Duo was more repairable than other foldable phones it had tested, replacing its inner display remains complicated. The company gave the device a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10. More importantly, it reported that an out-of-warranty inner-screen repair costs $999. That's roughly half the starting price of the phone.

Fortunately, Apple says customers affected by this particular display issue should contact AppleCare for a replacement. An AppleCare+ subscription is not required to request help for the acknowledged defect. However, accidental damage and unrelated screen repairs may fall under different coverage terms. You can learn more in our guide to checking your Apple warranty and what it covers.

What to do if your iPhone Duo screen cracks

If you recently purchased an iPhone Duo, pay attention to how the hinge feels when you open and close the device. A sudden increase in resistance or an unfamiliar popping sound deserves attention. If you notice something unusual, avoid forcing the phone open or closed. Don't repeatedly fold it to see whether the problem happens again. If your screen develops cracks or bright lines, here are some steps worth taking.

• Document the damage. Take photographs of the affected display if you can do so safely. Save your purchase receipt and note when the problem first appeared. These details may help when discussing the issue with Apple.
• Contact AppleCare directly. Visit Apple Support at support.apple.com/contact or arrange an appointment at an Apple Store. Explain what happened and mention Apple's acknowledgment of the inner-display issue. Even if you purchased the phone through a wireless carrier, Apple recommends contacting AppleCare for this problem.
• Back up your information before exchanging the phone. If your display still works, open Settings , tap your name , select iCloud , then tap iCloud Backup and choose Back Up Now . Make sure the backup finishes before handing over your device. If the screen no longer works, ask Apple about available recovery options.
• Ask about replacement availability. Some affected customers have received immediate exchanges at Apple Stores. However, replacement inventory may vary. Contact Apple before making a special trip and confirm the next steps for your particular device.

Why one Samsung foldable fan is returning his iPhone Duo

The concerns go beyond cracked screens. My colleague Chris was excited to switch from his Samsung Galaxy Fold to Apple’s new iPhone Duo. But after trying it, he was so disappointed that he decided to return it to Best Buy and get an iPhone 18 Pro instead.

He found the interface buggy and cumbersome, missed having Face ID and felt the cameras fell short of his expectations. He also preferred the display quality of other phones. At nearly $2,000, he simply couldn’t justify keeping it, saying, "I think the craftsmanship is phenomenal. I love the heft and the solid nature of the device, but because I’m coming from a foldable, there were so many glaring missteps that Apple made along the way, and at first they were little, but little things add up to the point where you genuinely question whether this truly was ready for prime time."

Now, Chris’s phone didn’t crack. His complaints are about the overall experience. But when someone who already enjoys using a foldable phone decides Apple’s version isn’t worth keeping, that gets my attention. I still think the Duo has some impressive features, but between these early screen problems and Chris’s experience, I’d want to try one in person before spending that kind of money.

Kurt's key takeaways

I've been looking forward to seeing what Apple could do with a foldable iPhone, and I still think the Duo is an impressive piece of technology. But I have to admit, these early screen failures would make me nervous about spending nearly $2,000 on one. I give Apple credit for acknowledging the problem quickly and offering replacements. That's the right response. What I want to know now is why these screens are failing and whether Apple can prevent the same thing from happening to replacement devices. Then there's my colleague Chris, who already knows his way around a Samsung foldable and still found Apple's version disappointing enough to return it. That tells me Apple has some convincing to do beyond fixing the screen issue. At this price, I want a phone that feels like an upgrade, not one that makes me question what I'm giving up. For now, I'd be inclined to wait rather than rush out and buy one.

If you spent nearly $2,000 on Apple's newest iPhone and the screen cracked within days, would a free replacement restore your confidence, or would you demand your money back? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.