Apple's $2,000 iPhone Duo — the first foldable iPhone — is facing durability complaints, with some users saying the inner display cracked at the hinge.
Here's what to know
Several Reddit users say the Duo's screen failed after only a handful of openings, according to Unilad. One Reddit poster from Australia said the device "cracked within six hours of ownership" even though they had opened it fewer than 20 times.
They said there were no signs on the inner display or the outer hinge to suggest anything had been caught. "As I continued opening it, I heard an audible crack, and the screen broke right along the hinge," they said.
Elsewhere on Reddit, one user said their Duo screen cracked after only three hours, and another shared a photo of the damage and wrote: "Didn't even make it through setup before I had the screen crack."
The reports point to what could be a costly design flaw in the part of the device meant to justify its premium price.
More background
At the unveiling of Apple's first foldable iPhone, new Apple CEO John Ternus said: "For a device that plays such a central role in your life, a larger display would open up entirely new possibilities. We think the best way to achieve that is with a foldable design."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Foldable phones have existed for years, but the Duo was Apple's first attempt to bring that form factor to the iPhone.
Because the reported cracks appear in the hinge area, early users say the same mechanism behind the Duo's larger display is also failing. If that area is defective, buyers could end up with a broken phone on day one, a return trip to the store, and doubts about how well a $2,000 device will hold up.
One commenter in the same Reddit thread suggested a "major recall" might be on the horizon.
What's being done?
The clearest response users described is an immediate replacement. The Australia-based Redditor said they brought the damaged Duo to an Apple Store, where staff apologized and gave them a brand-new phone right away.
A Dallas-based Duo owner who said the screen cracked during setup described a similar outcome, per Unilad: "Drove down to the Dallas Apple Store, and they thankfully had one in stock and swapped it out immediately, no charge."
"They have Genius Bar stock of these for any potential defects like this," they added. "Also said I was the first one they had seen in person today so not as widespread an issue as it seems."
Unilad said it had approached Apple for comment. On-the-spot swaps still leave early buyers spending time fixing a brand-new $2,000 device instead of using it.
Where can I learn more?
The Duo complaints fit a familiar pattern: Expensive phones can cause headaches almost as soon as they leave the box.
• Some iPhone 18 Pro buyers said the $1,199 phone arrived with pink camera halos.
• In California, a court revived claims Apple blocked independent iPhone repairs and raised costs.
• A U.S. buyer's iPhone 17 Pro Max lost service after purchase and was flagged as stolen.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
