Apple finally breaks its silence on iPhone Duo's cracked screens

Apple may have taken its sweet time joining the foldable party, but it hasn’t escaped the growing pains that greeted some of its Android rivals years ago. Just days after the $1,999 iPhone Duo went on sale, Apple has officially acknowledged reports of inner displays cracking near the hinge. It’s an uncomfortable development for a company that waited years to get foldables right, especially after its CEO recently took a swipe at earlier attempts.

In a statement shared with 9to5Mac, Apple confirmed:

The response to iPhone Duo from early users has been incredibly positive, and we are seeing exciting things from developers who are rapidly updating their apps to take advantage of its unique form factor. 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..

The company maintains that the problem affects very few devices, with defects apparently appearing shortly after use. However, it hasn’t explained what’s causing the failures or whether it plans any manufacturing changes.

Some early iPhone Duo buyers encountered cracked displays within hours of unboxing. One owner reported hearing a crack after fewer than 20 unfolds, though Apple reportedly replaced it immediately.

Further durability tests and teardown findings haven’t exactly helped Apple’s case. JerryRigEverything’s bend test left the inner display with permanent green lines. iFixit also identified a potential stress point in the hinge that could explain some of the reported failures, although the exact cause remains unknown. Meanwhile, separate endurance tests have shown the hinge holding up well after thousands of folds, but the display crease became noticeably deeper with repeated use.

Of course, Apple isn’t breaking entirely new ground here. Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold suffered notorious display failures before its release, and foldable durability remains an industry-wide challenge. But what makes Apple’s situation particularly ironic is that CEO John Ternus recently described some early foldables as “kind of cheap and crappy” in a TIME interview. And with Samsung already poking fun at the iPhone Duo, the timing couldn’t be more awkward.

Beyond acknowledging the display failures, Apple also shared some encouraging news. The company says early feedback on the iPhone Duo has been overwhelmingly positive, with developers quickly updating their apps to make better use of its foldable design.

Still, a handful of failures doesn’t establish a widespread design flaw. Apple’s acknowledgment and replacement offer are welcome, but determining why these screens are cracking remains the bigger question.