iPhone Duo users report screen cracks in Apple’s first foldable handset

Apple says a small number of devices affected by display issue; experts say it is too early to assess the scale of the problem

Published : 28 October 2026

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Updated : 28 October 2026, 10:30

Star Online Report

File photo: Apple

Owners of Apple’s first foldable handset, the iPhone Duo, have reported cracks in its inner screen, with the company confirming that a “small number” of devices have been affected, The Guardian reports.Reports of cracks have appeared on Reddit and other social media platforms since the handset went on sale globally on Friday. Experts say there are too few reported cases to determine whether the issue points to a wider problem. The device starts at $1,999 (£1,499).Apple confirmed that some units had experienced a display glitch.“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,” the company said.One user in Australia said their phone’s screen cracked within six hours of purchase and shared the experience on Reddit.“I was showing it to a friend, and as I opened it, I felt something around the internal hinge, underneath the screen,” they wrote alongside an image that appeared to show a display fault, with a white strip of light running along one half of the screen.“As I continued opening it, I heard an audible crack, and the screen broke right along the hinge.”The user said their local Apple store replaced the phone immediately. The Guardian said it had been unable to verify the claim.Another Australian user reported hearing “almost a cracking noise” from their handset before a similar screen fault appeared.A report by Bloomberg also highlighted similar problems among users in the United States and India.Apple believes the affected units are showing defects soon after use. The company said the response from early users had been “incredibly positive”.It also described demand for the iPhone Duo as “nothing short of extraordinary”. The handset is the company’s most high-profile product launch under its new chief executive, John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook in September.The device has sold out, and the next round of shipments is not expected until January, according to Taiwan-based publication Economic Daily. Taiwan is home to Foxconn, Apple’s main device manufacturer.Francisco Jeronimo, vice-president of data and analytics at technology research firm IDC, said it was too early to determine whether the screen issue was significant.“This is quite common when a new product comes to market,” he said.Referring to similar problems with Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold in 2019, he said the way a company responds to early defects matters.“What matters now is how the company responds … Samsung experienced problems with the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, but it also showed that a fast and transparent response can contain the damage to a category.“Apple said that any customer with problems should ask for a replacement, which is the right first step.”Ben Wood, chief analyst at research firm CCS, said he was taking a cautious view of the screen issue and that there was no evidence yet of a more widespread problem with the device.