Apple's $2,000 foldable iPhone reportedly cracks within hours as owners report display failures

Apple's first foldable iPhone has begun reaching customers, but reports of damaged inner displays are already emerging. Several photographs shared online appear to show cracks along the iPhone Duo's hinge, sometimes accompanied by bright lines across the screen. One owner claims the $1,999 smartphone broke after fewer than 20 openings.

The reports surfaced on 23 October, the day Apple's first foldable iPhone officially went on sale.

iPhone Duo owner reports screen cracking after fewer than 20 folds

According to MacRumors, an iPhone Duo owner in Australia reported that the device's inner display cracked after approximately six hours of use.

The owner claimed to have opened the phone fewer than 20 times before noticing an unusual sensation around the hinge while unfolding it. An audible cracking sound reportedly followed, with damage appearing along the fold.

The owner said there had been no visible damage to the display or external hinge beforehand. According to their account, an Apple Store replaced the device immediately.

Other photographs shared on Reddit and the MacRumors forums show apparent display failures concentrated around the folding mechanism. Some images feature bright horizontal lines extending across part of the inner screen.

However, the circumstances surrounding several of these photographs, including images reportedly taken of demonstration units in China, remain unclear.

The Verge also reported the emerging complaints on 23 October.

Apple's first foldable faces early durability questions

The reports are particularly notable because Apple has emphasised the durability of the iPhone Duo's folding mechanism.

In its official product information, Apple describes a precision-engineered hinge and a multilayer inner display designed for repeated folding.

The iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch folding OLED display and a 5.4-inch external screen. Starting at $1,999 in the United States, it is Apple's first entry into the foldable smartphone market.

The early complaints raise questions about the durability of individual devices, although they do not establish a widespread manufacturing defect.

The number of affected devices is unknown, and there is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether the incidents share a common manufacturing or design-related cause.

For now, the reports highlight a potential concern for early buyers of Apple's most expensive iPhone, particularly as the company begins delivering its first generation of foldable smartphones to customers.

Louise Burke - Tech Writer / Proofreading - 81 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025

Louise is a passionate linguist and performer with a background in translation for the UN and EU institutions. With a deep love for languages and storytelling, she blends precision and creativity, whether translating complex texts or bringing characters to life on stage and screen. When not immersed in words or music, you’ll find her refining accents, working on new songs, or exploring the magic of cinema.