Apple has acknowledged that some owners of its new foldable iPhone Duo are seeing the inner display crack. In a statement issued on 26 October, the company said it is “aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units.”
The inner screen is the whole point of a foldable, so this is the one part a first-generation buyer least wants to see fail. If you bought from a reseller rather than Apple or a carrier, find out what replacement route that seller offers before relying on Apple’s offer.
Cracks along the hinge line
Over the weekend of 24 and 25 October, owners posted photos and videos on Reddit, X and TikTok showing the inner screen cracked along the hinge line. Engadget also describes bright lines running down the middle of the display when unfolded, and some dead pixels along the crease. Developer Mike Rundle wrote on X on 24 October that he had seen seven photos and several TikTok videos of the problem.
Not every unit is affected. The publication’s own review unit was fine, and so was the Duo CNET is fold-testing, which had passed 55,000 folds. 9to5Mac notes that a handful of the Reddit posts were fake or AI-generated, though it says many of the reports look genuine.
Apple’s advice: call AppleCare
Apple’s statement is short: “If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement.” According to the same outlet, buyers do not need AppleCare+ for this problem, and those who bought through a carrier should contact AppleCare directly rather than the carrier. Apple has not said how many units are affected or what the cause is. A teardown of the phone pointed to components that may put excessive pressure on the display.
A 7.6-inch screen that folds open
The product page lists a 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR folding display with a nano-texture finish and a 5.4-inch outer display, both with ProMotion up to 120Hz. The phone is eSIM-only and comes in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions.
Buying one from a reseller
Ask in writing who will handle a replacement if the inner screen fails, and test the fold and the display fully before paying. Since the Duo is eSIM-only, also check that your operator supports eSIM activation for your account.
Apple has not said whether it will change the hardware or issue further guidance. For now, owners who see lines, dead pixels or cracks should contact AppleCare.
