A Troubling Start for Apple's First Foldable
The iPhone Duo was meant to be Apple’s grand entrance into the foldable market, promising a premium experience wrapped in a Grade 5 titanium frame. However, only days after hitting store shelves, the device is already generating headlines for the wrong reasons. Reports from multiple countries, including Australia and China, indicate that some units are suffering from internal screen damage specifically located along the hinge.
While foldables have long been viewed as a niche product, Apple’s entry was expected to legitimize the category. Instead, these early reports of damaged displays are raising serious questions about the long-term durability of the device’s folding mechanism.
What Users Are Reporting
The feedback from early owners describes a recurring issue. Some users have reported hearing a distinct 'crunching' sound when opening their devices, followed by pixel failure or visible cracks along the crease of the inner display. In some extreme cases, these issues appeared within just six hours of standard use.
- Reports of 'crunching' sounds during the opening mechanism.
- Dead pixels appearing specifically along the folding hinge.
- Cracks emerging on the inner display after minimal usage.
- Incidents reported by customers as well as in-store display units.
Beyond these hardware concerns, early reviewers have noted that the device requires some adjustment, citing frustrations with the fingerprint authentication process and the ergonomics of the volume buttons. While the software experience, which allows for robust multitasking and 'Duo Preview' photography features, remains a highlight, the hardware durability issues are currently overshadowing these innovations.
The iPhone Duo pulls me in two directions. On the one hand, it’s a brilliantly designed phone that feels premium and invites you in like no other Apple handheld has before. On the other, it surfaces issues I’ve never had with an iPhone before.
— Jaron Schneider, PetaPixel
The Path Forward
Apple has yet to issue an official statement regarding these reported failures. For a device retailing at a starting price of $1,999, consumers are understandably concerned about the longevity of the folding screen. Industry analysts previously projected that Apple could ship over 17 million foldable units by 2027, but the success of those ambitions may depend heavily on how the company addresses these early hardware hiccups.