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

Apple’s first foldable iPhone has started reaching customers, but reports of damaged internal displays are already emerging. Several photographs shared online appear to show cracks in the iPhone Duo’s internal display along the crease, sometimes accompanied by glowing lines across the screen. One owner claims the $1,999 smartphone broke after less than 20 openings.

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

iPhone Duo owner reports screen cracking after less than 20 bends

According to MacRumors, an iPhone Duo owner in Australia reported that the device’s internal screen cracked after about six hours of use.

The owner claimed to have opened the phone less than 20 times before noticing an unusual feeling around the hinge when unfolding it. An audible crack would have followed, with damage appearing along the crease.

The owner said there was no visible damage to the screen or external hinge beforehand. According to their story, an Apple Store immediately replaced the device.

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

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

The Verge also reported on the new complaints on October 23.

Apple’s first foldable faces early durability questions

The reports are particularly notable because Apple highlighted the durability of the iPhone Duo’s folding mechanism.

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

The iPhone Duo has a 7.6-inch foldable OLED display and a 5.4-inch external display. Starting at $1,999 in the US, this is Apple’s first entry into the foldable smartphone market.

The initial 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 cause related to manufacturing or design.

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