Early iPhone Duo buyers report cracked inner screens

Why it matters: Foldable phones hinge on displays that bend repeatedly, and repairs are costly, so early durability reports shape how buyers judge the category. Apple's first foldable is a high-profile test of whether the format is ready for mainstream use, and Chinese buyers are watching closely because the country is a major market for premium phones.

Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, went on sale on October 23. Within two days, users were posting photos of cracked inner screens.

One user in Australia said the device had been in hand for about six hours and folded fewer than 20 times when a clear cracking sound came, after which the screen split along the hinge. The user said there were no dents or pinch marks on the inner screen or the outer hinge, and that an Apple Store replaced the faulty unit directly.

In Shanghai, a customer surnamed Zhang told media that she paid 17,999 yuan (about $2,530) for a night-sky-coloured iPhone Duo ordered online. Less than a day after getting it, the inner screen showed two visible cracks while she was opening it normally, she said, without dropping it or bending it hard.

Zhang asked the store for a refund or replacement. Staff said they could not confirm whether the damage was user-caused, so the phone would be sent to Apple for assessment, according to the report. Staff also told her that repair would cost much less with AppleCare+.

Apple published self-repair manuals and support documents on launch day. According to the official support page, Apple will replace a device if its after-sales check finds the damage was not user-caused; accidental damage is paid repair. Out-of-warranty inner-screen repair is estimated at 7,998 yuan (about $1,130) without AppleCare+, or a 628 yuan (about $88) service fee with it.

Some users on Xiaohongshu also shared photos of screen faults. Commenters on the report were divided, with some calling the phone unfinished and others blaming improper use.