Apple has finally made an iPhone that folds. But unfortunately, several owners say the screen has interpreted that instruction with slightly too much enthusiasm.
The reports of cracked iPhone Duo displays have continued spreading since the device went on sale. And photos shared online show cracks developing near the hinge, while some screens display bright white lines around the affected area. One Australian owner claimed the problem appeared after only six hours and fewer than 20 folds. The owner reportedly felt something beneath the hinge before hearing the screen crack. This was followed by an Apple Store later replacing the phone. MacRumors has also found images of damaged demonstration models in China, although we do not know how customers handled those devices.
So before we announce the arrival of Crackgate, let’s slow down for a moment. The number of confirmed cases remains small. 9to5Mac identified around ten separate examples, and Apple has not confirmed a wider defect. Considering how many phones the company sells, a few damaged units do not automatically mean that every iPhone Duo is a fan of the banana split.
But the similarity between the photographs is difficult to ignore.
Several cracks appear around the same area of the fold. That has led some people to suspect that a component inside the hinge may be pressing against the display. But that’s only a theory and has yet to be proven. Teardowns have identified possible weaknesses around the hinge, but they have not established what caused the damage seen on customers’ phones. Digital Trends also notes that different investigations have produced different explanations.
Basically, we know where the screens appear to be breaking, but we still don’t know why.
And therein lies the problem for a US$1,999 phone. Early adopters accept a certain amount of risk. They buy new technology before everyone else, discover which features work and occasionally become unpaid quality-control inspectors. But there is a difference between encountering a software problem and wondering whether opening your new phone will damage it. If only the fold were an optional feature, alas it is the entire reason the iPhone Duo exists.
Apple cannot sell the excitement of a folding screen and then expect owners to treat the hinge like an ancient artefact that must never experience pressure, dust or an enthusiastic thumb. A phone is an everyday object that is placed in pockets, used while eating and occasionally closed without first performing a detailed inspection. Now we can all agree that foldable displays naturally require more care than ordinary glass screens. They use softer, flexible materials that can become vulnerable to dirt, sharp objects and pressure. Experts recommend keeping crumbs and other objects away from the inner display and avoiding unnecessary force when closing the device. Which is fair.
But the truth is that a device designed to fold should survive ordinary folding without making its owner nervous every time the two sides meet. Some affected customers reportedly received replacements from Apple Stores. That is reassuring, although people who bought the phone through mobile carriers have apparently faced stock problems when requesting another device. Apple has not publicly explained what caused the cracks or whether it is investigating a larger hardware issue. And that silence may become more uncomfortable if the reports continue.
For now, iPhone Duo owners should not panic. A handful of examples cannot reveal the failure rate, and most devices may never experience the problem. But if the hinge begins resisting, making noises or behaving differently, do not keep folding it to see what happens. Take photographs, stop applying pressure and contact Apple.
The iPhone Duo represents Apple’s entrance into a category Samsung, Google and other manufacturers have spent years refining. That does not mean Apple must produce a completely flawless first attempt. But it does mean customers are justified in expecting a US$1,999 device to survive the movement printed on the box.
Apple sold the fold as the feature. Now it may need to prove that the fold is not also the weakness.
