With the much-anticipated iPhone Duo launch taking place last week (October 23), fans have been rushing to pick up Apple’s very first foldable iPhone – assuming they can afford the hefty $1,999 starting price. However, the first-generation foldable is already running into some problems, with some users reporting screen cracking problems in “less than 24 hours” of usage.

From the various examples we’ve seen online, the affected iPhone Duos are breaking in the same way. A report from a customer in China reveals the hinge protruding after a day of use, leading to a cracked screen. Likewise, a user on Reddit reports an identical problem after “about six hours” of use, noting that they “heard an audible crack” when unfolding it. The Reddit user, based in Australia, says they were able to replace it on the spot at their local Apple Store, but not all have been so lucky.

Based on information shared online, the China-based customer was unable to get their device repaired or replaced due to a lack of replacement parts/stock. Another user, also in Australia, reports being able to replace their model immediately: “They currently don’t have replacement models for the 1TB and 2TB in either colour. They have ordered one but can’t guarantee when it will come,” they say.

Samsung’s new advert takes aim at Apple’s iPhone Duo

In a recently shared advertisement (see below), Samsung boasts being “Years ahead in Foldables” – and it’s not the first time the South Korean tech giant has been keen to highlight its experience with foldable displays. Samsung marked its eighth generation by highlighting its innovations over the years in an official blog post, shortly after Apple announced the iPhone Duo in September.

Samsung’s first foldable was the Galaxy Fold back in 2019, and the screen technology has come a long way since then. The recently released flagship Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is Samsung’s thinnest Galaxy Fold phone ever, and the company even branched out into a TriFold model earlier this year, though it was discontinued months later as perhaps too niche (and expensive) a product.

Of course, the iPhone Duo’s so-called ‘crackgate’ issue is only affecting a small number of users right now, but it’s a worrying sign for any other Apple fan with a launch-day model. Engineers are already looking into why the cracking issue is taking place, with one South Korean YouTuber, CuriousHagi, tearing apart their broken Duo to discover the root cause. They discovered that the hinge inside had completely snapped under pressure, with the middle hinge being thinner than those above and below it, and therefore more prone to breaking. It seems this is why the broken screen is affected horizontally along the center of the panel.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.