iPhone Duo screens are cracking, and they have one thing in common

Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, officially began shipping to customers last week, and we're starting to see why folding screens are difficult to get right. A significant number of reports have surfaced online from early iPhone Duo buyers who have had the inner screen crack. The interesting part? They're all breaking in the exact same spot.

Impacted devices show a bright band of white pixels extending from the same point near the middle of the fold in the display. A Reddit user said they felt something in the hinge as they were opening it, right before the issue appeared on their screen — and after only six hours of owning it. To Apple's credit, the user says the company replaced it immediately with a new Duo when he took it to a nearby Apple Store.

the iPhone Duo might have CrackGate issue there are so many cases of it on Reddit where it's breaking in the exact same place pic.twitter.com/IlCJj8kJ8B — Holly - I like tech (@AnxiousHolly) October 24, 2026

the iPhone Duo might have CrackGate issue there are so many cases of it on Reddit where it's breaking in the exact same place pic.twitter.com/IlCJj8kJ8B

Holly - I like tech (@AnxiousHolly) October 24, 2026

The folks at iFixit, which is known for tearing down new devices to show how they work, may have found the issue causing the defective screens. "The damage we're seeing in photos isn't right where the display cable passes through the hinge, but slightly lower, at a point where several edges meet and change how the thin display is supported as it bends," iFixit says in its iPhone Duo teardown . It goes on to speculate that the center support bar under the fold doesn't drop down far enough and may create "a small stress hotspot near the reported break location."

In a statement to 9to5Mac , Apple said the issue impacts "a small number" of devices. "The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor. We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement."

It's unclear how many devices the defect may impact. However, this sort of issue isn't exactly new to foldable screens; the original Samsung Galaxy Fold showed a similar problem in The Verge's 2019 review .

"Apple said that any customer with problems should ask for a replacement, which is the right first step," Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of devices at analyst firm IDC , told Yahoo. "At $1,999, Apple is positioning the Duo as a premium alternative to established foldables, and how it handles this first-generation issue will shape buyer confidence in the category well beyond its own sales. Apple has a loyal customer base and a retail network that can swap devices on the spot, but with a further 28 markets launching on 30 October, it needs to clarify its warranty position quickly."

Foldable screens are complicated, involving complex hinge mechanisms and multiple delicate layers that must slide and flex past one another. Apple says its hinge mechanism has more than 100 components, while the screen is made up of 10 ultra-thin layers . A small defect with any one of those parts could cause problems. Other companies that make foldable phones have had years to work out the kinks with their manufacturing process, but it's clear Apple still has some work to do with its first foldable.