Hinge Cracks Appear on $2,000 Foldable iPhone Days After Launch

Apple's first foldable smartphone, the 'iPhone Duo,' which starts at around $2,000, is facing a wave of complaints just days after launch, with users reporting cracks in the screen near the hinge. The iPhone Duo, the foldable iPhone Apple developed over several years, was unveiled in September and released on October 23, featuring a 7.6-inch display when unfolded and a 5.4-inch screen when folded. Foldable smartphones fold their screens in half, combining portability with a large display.

Some users have shared photos of the damage and accounts of the failures on Reddit. Multiple users reported cracks appearing in nearly the same spot, near the hinge at the center of the internal display. Some said their phones made strange sounds before the screen failed, while others described bright white lines spreading across the screen. Reddit user leftyhyzer16 said the internal display cracked and bright lines spread across the entire screen before initial setup was even complete, explaining that they had only opened and closed the phone a few times.

Apple addressed the reports on the 26th. In a statement to the press, the company said it is "aware of an issue affecting a small number of iPhone internal displays," adding that affected customers can request a replacement. However, Apple has not yet explained the exact cause of the failures.