Apple’s first foldable iPhone has run into an unexpected problem just days after launch, with some owners reporting cracks developing across the inner display. The issue has quickly gained attention online, with users and commentators referring to it as “Crackgate”.
The reports are an uncomfortable start for Apple’s biggest iPhone design change in years. The company has built its reputation around tightly controlled hardware design and quality, making any early durability concerns particularly significant.
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Apple has acknowledged that a small number of iPhone Duo units have experienced problems with their internal displays. The company is advising affected customers to contact AppleCare for replacement support.
“We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement,” Apple stated.
What is happening to the iPhone Duo screen?
Several images and posts shared online appear to show a similar horizontal crack developing across the inner screen when the iPhone Duo is unfolded. The reports have emerged from users in different parts of the world, although the actual scale of the problem remains unclear. At this stage, there is no indication that the issue affects a large proportion of devices.
A handful of failures can attract enormous attention when a newly launched product costs more than $2,000, particularly when photographs of damaged devices spread rapidly across social media.
The precise cause has also not been confirmed by Apple. A possible explanation raised by experts is related to the phone’s hinge and the way the flexible display is supported as the device opens and closes. The repeated appearance of cracks in a similar location has added to those concerns.
Francisco Jeronimo, vice-president at market intelligence firm International Data Corporation, said the reports demonstrate how challenging foldable hardware remains, even for a company with Apple’s resources.
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“Even a company with Apple’s engineering resources and supply chain discipline faces a steep learning curve in foldables,” Jeronimo said. He added that the consistency of the reported damage could indicate a potential sensitivity involving hinge tolerances or display support during folding.
Apple’s foldable iPhone was supposed to be a major milestone
The iPhone Duo launched at a starting price of more than $2,000, representing one of the most significant design changes in the iPhone’s nearly two-decade history.
Apple entered the foldable smartphone market years after Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Fold in 2019. Other manufacturers, including Samsung and Google, have also experienced reliability concerns with foldable displays.
Apple’s approach was to take its time rather than rush a foldable device to market. New Apple chief executive John Ternus had previously argued that the company wanted to avoid delivering a product that was not ready.
Ternus said Apple had waited rather than launch something that was “cheap and crappy”, choosing instead to spend more time working on the engineering behind the display and hinge. That makes the current reports particularly awkward for the new CEO. Ternus took over from Tim Cook last month and is preparing for his first quarterly results call as Apple’s chief executive.
Could the hinge be responsible?
The reports do not yet establish that the hinge is definitively responsible for the cracked screens. A former Apple screen engineer familiar with the company’s design and manufacturing processes suggested that the problem could instead involve a very small number of defective units that escaped testing.
“Even if you test 1,000 units at a time, you need at least one failure to appear so you can start chasing down the issue,” the former engineer said.
Why ‘Crackgate’ is reminding people of Antennagate
The online backlash has drawn comparisons with another infamous iPhone launch problem. In 2010, owners of the iPhone 4 complained about dropped calls and poor signal reception. The controversy became known as “Antennagate” and became a major public-relations headache for Apple.
Steve Jobs initially responded by suggesting that users were “holding it the wrong way”. Apple later offered free protective bumpers to affected customers.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
