iPhone Duo Foldable Phones Facing Screen Cracking Issues, iFixit Teardown Offers Clues

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, has hit the market with much excitement, but some users are already reporting problems. Several owners have found their phone’s inner screen cracking after just a few uses, sometimes even before they finished setting it up. This has raised concerns and a nickname: “crackgate.”

The iPhone Duo was launched on 23 October 2026, priced at $1,999 in the U.S. It features a 7.6-inch folding OLED screen inside and a 5.4-inch outer display, both designed to offer a smooth, glare-reducing viewing experience with a special nano-textured finish. Apple designed the phone with a complex hinge mechanism to manage the fold and protect the screen, and it carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

However, reports started surfacing online of bright lines and cracks appearing along the fold, often accompanied by a clicking or stuck feeling when opening or closing the device. Some users say the damage appeared within hours of first use. Apple has acknowledged a problem affecting a small number of units and is offering replacements through AppleCare, but the company has not explained what causes the cracking or how widespread it is.

Repair experts at iFixit took the Duo apart and gave it a provisional repairability score of 5 out of 10, the highest they’ve awarded to any foldable phone so far. They praised features like the removable outer screen, battery, and trim, which are relatively easy to replace. But the inner folding screen is a different story: it’s fragile, tricky to remove, and expensive to fix, with a replacement cost of around $999—about half the price of the phone itself.

What might be behind the cracking? iFixit used CT scans, teardown footage, and Apple’s patents to study the hinge area where the damage happens. They found that the trouble spots cluster near a central support bar inside the hinge. This bar may not retract fully when the phone closes, putting extra pressure on the curved OLED screen. Over time, or sometimes quickly, this stress can damage the delicate display layers, causing the bright lines and cracks users see.

Additionally, iFixit found that dust can get inside the hinge, causing a “crunchy” sound, although the Duo seems to collect less dust than some other foldables. While Apple rates the phone as dust- and water-resistant, the hinge remains a vulnerable point due to its moving parts.

Apple’s official specifications highlight the Duo’s advanced design, including its titanium frame and “precision-engineered” hinge. But this is Apple’s first foldable, and like many early foldable models from other brands, it faces challenges with durability in the hinge area. Samsung’s first foldable in 2019 had similar issues and needed a redesign.

For now, owners with cracked screens are advised to contact AppleCare for replacements. However, replacement units can be limited, and repairs are costly. Apple has not shared details on how many phones are affected or if they will update the design to prevent future problems.

This situation is a reminder that foldable phones are still evolving technology. While they offer exciting new ways to use smartphones, the engineering challenges are complex, especially around hinges and flexible screens. Users interested in the iPhone Duo should be aware of these potential risks and weigh them against the device’s innovative features.