Apple iPhone Duo users report screen cracks days after launch
Apple’s first foldable iPhone faces early durability concerns as users report cracked displays, dead pixels and possible hinge-related failures
26 October, 2026
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Apple’s newly launched iPhone Duo is facing complaints over screen durability, with several early buyers reporting cracked displays and pixel failures just days after the company’s first foldable smartphone went on sale in Dubai and other global markets on October 23.
Images and accounts shared on Reddit, X and technology forums show damage concentrated around the device’s internal folding hinge, with some screens developing vertical cracks, bright white lines and dead pixels within hours of purchase.
The reports have raised questions about the durability of Apple’s premium foldable device, which is priced between Dhs8,499 and Dhs13,599 in the UAE, although the extent of the problem remains unclear.
iPhone Duo screen reportedly cracks within six hours
One of the earliest complaints emerged from Australia, where a Reddit user identified as Midnight_Slump reported that their iPhone Duo’s internal display cracked after approximately six hours of ownership and fewer than 20 openings.
According to the user’s account on the iPhone Duo subreddit, they noticed an unusual sensation beneath the display near the hinge while opening the device to show a friend. The screen subsequently cracked along the folding mechanism.
The user said there were no visible signs of external damage or anything trapped inside the device that could explain the failure.
Apple initially offered an express replacement, but the customer said the process would have required a hold for the phone’s full purchase price without a guaranteed delivery date.
The customer subsequently visited an Apple Store, where the device was replaced. Reddit moderators reportedly verified the incident after reviewing additional photographs and Apple service documentation, although they could not establish what caused the damage.
Similar complaints emerge on Reddit and X
The Australian incident does not appear to be the only reported case.
According to 9to5Mac, approximately 10 distinct cases of similar screen damage had been identified by October 25, with several users reporting cracks running down the centre of the folding display.
Some affected devices reportedly developed a horizontal band of white pixels, while others experienced display failures during initial setup.
Images of damaged iPhone Duo demonstration units have also circulated on Chinese social media platforms, although the circumstances surrounding those incidents have not been independently established.
On X, technology commentator Mike Rundle, who posts under the handle @flyosity, said he had seen seven photographs showing similar damage, alongside videos circulating on TikTok.
The recurring pattern has prompted speculation that a component within the hinge assembly may be exerting pressure on the flexible display. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to establish whether the incidents are linked to a common manufacturing or design defect.
Could the iPhone Duo hinge be causing screen damage?
A teardown of the iPhone Duo has provided a possible explanation for the reported failures.
According to The Verge, YouTuber CuriousHagi reproduced a screen crack during durability testing before dismantling the device to investigate.
The examination identified a broken connecting component within the hinge assembly that was thinner than surrounding parts. Marks where the hinge contacted a supporting plate also suggested that the mechanism may have caught during operation.
However, these findings do not conclusively establish the cause of the failures reported by customers or indicate that every iPhone Duo is affected.
