iPhone Duo: Owners Report Inner Screen Cracks Within 24 Hours of Purchase

Less than 24 hours after leaving the store, one iPhone Duo owner found her device cracked along the central hinge.

The incident is part of a growing number of reports from early buyers of Apple's first foldable smartphone. The device went on sale on October 23. Since then, online posts have circulated images and videos showing the inner screens fracturing near the fold.

Roneshia Smith, who received the phone as a graduation gift from her husband Justin, described the failure. She said she picked up the phone from her nightstand the morning after purchase and found it difficult to unfold. When she forced it open, she heard a sound she compared to an egg breaking. The phone had been in use for less than a day.

Apple has confirmed the issue. In a statement, the company said it is aware of a problem affecting the inner display on a small number of units. The firm advised affected users to contact AppleCare for a replacement.

Jesse Dalton, a resident near Frisco, Texas, bought his unit on launch day. He paid approximately $800 for the 512-gigabyte model after an AT&T trade-in, bringing the total cost to around $2,200. Dalton said the phone failed before he completed the initial setup. He had attached a protective case when the device became stiff. He pushed against the resistance, assuming the case was the cause, and heard a loud pop as the screen fractured. A local Apple Store had a replacement available, and he swapped the broken unit in about 30 minutes.

The iPhone Duo is a premium product. The base model costs nearly $2,000, while higher-end configurations exceed $3,000. This is the first major release under CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook earlier this year.

Lance Ulanoff, editor at large for TechRadar, noted that the folding screen is a complex assembly. It includes an OLED panel, glass, plastic covering, and a mechanical hinge. He identified the ultra-thin glass as the most fragile component. Ulanoff said he was surprised by Apple's quick acknowledgment of the defect, calling it unusual for the company. He has used a Duo for a week and a half without issue and views the problem as a minor blip.

Ulanoff recommends that owners with damaged devices make an appointment at an Apple Store rather than walking in without one. He urged affected customers to return to Apple immediately to resolve the matter.

Apple is preparing for a product event in Los Angeles. The company is expected to unveil a new touchscreen laptop at the gathering.