Apple hit by 'Crackgate' outcry over iPhone Duo screen problems

The debut of Apple's first foldable iPhone has hit an early snag after some users reported broken screens just days after its release, a phenomenon already dubbed "Crackgate".

The growing furore on social media over the iPhone Duo's apparent problems is a rare setback for a company that stakes much of its reputation on the quality of its hardware.

It is also a blow to Apple's new chief executive John Ternus , who took over from Tim Cook last month. Ternus, who investors have hoped will breathe new life into Apple's product roadmap, is set to hold his first quarterly results call on Monday.

Apple has acknowledged that a "small number" of devices had broken following the Duo's release on Friday.

"We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units," Apple said. "If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement."

Over the past week, several social media posts from around the world have shown iPhone Duos with the same horizontal crack about two-thirds of the way down the screen when the device is open.

While the scale of the problem with the Duo remains unclear, "Crackgate" evokes memories of another iPhone launch misfire.

In 2010, iPhone 4 users reported dropped calls and weak signal in a phenomenon dubbed "Antennagate". After Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs initially dismissed the complaints as customers "holding it the wrong way", the company later issued free protective bumpers.

Apple has not announced a recall on any of its foldable devices. Such a move would be highly unusual for the company, which has historically used service and replacement programmes to address issues.

This month's launch of the Duo, which costs upwards of $2,000 , marked the biggest design change for the iPhone in its nearly 20-year history. Apple's entry into the foldable phone market came seven years after its main rival Samsung debuted the first Galaxy Fold device.

Several other foldable phones have also faced reliability problems. In 2019, Samsung experienced early issues with what was then new display technology, after some review units experienced screen breaks.

Ternus said Apple had waited to avoid offering a "cheap and crappy" device and instead perfected the complex engineering required to create a smooth internal display and durable hinge.

Francisco Jeronimo, a vice-president at market intelligence firm the International Data Corporation, said the Duo issues showed that "even a company with Apple's engineering resources and supply chain discipline faces a steep learning curve in foldables".