THE The iPhone Duo’s “crackgate” issues led me to keep my Duo and add AppleCare+ even after Apple’s CEO said it only affected “a very small percentage” of units. This is in stark contrast to how I used the Galaxy Z Fold 8 when I was testing it, where baby never crossed my mind.
John Ternus says ‘crackgate’ affects ‘very small percentage’ of iPhone Duos
Apple CEO John Ternus reaffirmed today (November 2) an interview after the company’s fourth-quarter earnings release indicates that only “a very small percentage” of iPhone Duo units were returned with display issues. These units are replaced by new units. However, no exact figure has been given for this percentage, just as was the case when Apple gave his statement last week regarding the same issue. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the units he reported on were Actual damaged units that have cracked during normal use.
He also said he suspected the damage was caused by a faulty batch of hinges pressed into the phones’ screens and wondered how “small” that number of affected units actually was.
This problem is exacerbated by the fact that, according to Ternus, even Apple cannot predict when the Duo’s supply and demand issues will reach equilibrium. At this point, Apple Store shipping estimates still show late January.
Some iPhone Duo owners aren’t convinced by the ‘very small’ claim
On r/iPhoneDuo, in an article by u/SaintDimitri sharing Ternus’ comment titled “Great news for worried customers”, several responses received mixed reactions.
A Reddit post sharing Ternus’ comment about the “very small percentage”. | Image by SaintDimitri via Reddit
Some who weren’t convinced dismissed the statement as mere investor-friendly wording and recalled those famous moments when Apple declared “you’re wrong” to consumers or denied claims that its phones were bent. Others pointed out that in his statement, Ternus called this a “display issue” and not a “hinge issue,” which is the theory put forward by many.
Some owners view Ternus’ comment as investor-friendly. | Image by GassoBongo via Reddit
On the other side of the spectrum, there are those who have come to Apple’s defense by pointing out that every electronic device has a certain failure rate, while others have said that Apple has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to taking care of its customers.
Others point out that every gadget has a certain failure rate. | Image from Ellite25 via Reddit
iPhone Duo “crackgate” joins “Antennagate” and “Bendgate”
Here’s a walk through Apple’s -gates past:
- 2010s Antennegate: It was reported that the iPhone 4 lost its cellular signal when held in a certain way. This was followed by Steve Jobs responded to a customer about the problem by advising him to “just avoid holding it that way”, which was later dubbed the famous phrase “you’re holding it wrong”. This issue led Apple to hand out free bumper cases to every iPhone 4 user.
- 2014 Bendgate: Reports of the iPhone 6 Plus bending inside users’ pockets took over the news cycle. Apple responded by saying that only nine customers contacted the company in the first six days of these reports, denying a broader problem. Although the company has never admitted it, the move of the next iPhone (6s) to stronger aluminum 7000 series is said to be a result of these reports.
The difference this time with “crackgate” is that Apple acknowledged the problem about 20 minutes after Gurman’s publication by Bloomberg. its first story on this and replaces affected Duo units whether or not the user has AppleCare+. The problem here is that Apple has learned from its mistakes and how to respond to these “-gates” now, although it still won’t share the exact number of units affected.
How this affected my own use of the iPhone Duo
While waiting for my iPhone Duo Hopefully the pre-order ship date will increase, I managed to get another unit to pick up at my local Apple Store. In five days of use now, I can happily say that I haven’t had any issues with the screen or hinge (knock on wood).
My iPhone Duo on its charger, no cracks yet. | Image from PhoneArena
However, I noticed something strange and it has nothing to do with the condition of the hardware. The problem is, tracking all these reports and scenarios where the phone was damaged has completely changed how I use the Duo compared to how I used to use the Duo. Galaxy Z-fold 8 when I was testing it.
First, I purchased AppleCare+. As a phone reviewer, I generally never buy AppleCare, because I almost never keep a device for more than a year covered by the standard warranty. I’m always very careful with my phones and have considered using a case and screen protector with enough protection to get me through this year without having to pay for any type of insurance.
However, this was not the case with the iPhone Duo. This is the phone I’ve paid the most money for and as a clumsy person with smaller hands, I need guarantees that if it breaks in a year and I’m still using it, I’ll have no problem replacing it without having to pay half the price of the phone itself.
Another change I’ve noticed is how I treat the phone. When I tested the Galaxy Z-fold 8folding and unfolding it was never something I consciously thought about. I did it with abandon and without thinking anything could go wrong.
With the iPhone DuoI now constantly monitor how I treat the device when folding and unfolding it, paying attention to any stiffness, popping noises, or the like. Baby and iPhone Duo was not on my bingo card for 2026.
What should an iPhone Duo owner or future owner do?
Well, if you’ve already purchased a Duo, we’ve already done our recommendation that you should get AppleCare+ while you still can. We also recommended that you unfold it gently, but without panicking as Apple replaces the affected units. However, if you’re still deciding and really want the phone, rest assured because crackgate appears to only affect a batch of Duos, so it might be a good idea to wait a few weeks until these issues are resolved. I know, I didn’t follow our own advice. Plus, if you’re on the pre-order waitlist, you might get your Duo after this time anyway.
Personally, one thing crackgate has taught me is not to take the fragility of foldable phones for granted, because I think any device with multiple moving parts is vulnerable to joining the crackgate club. I also look forward to the day when I can unfold the Duo without thinking twice, like I did with the Z-fold 8.
Learn more about iPhone Duo and crackgate:
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