Apple’s $2,000 foldable iPhone faces durability test after viral screen failures

Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, which officially launched on October 23, 2026, is facing trust and integrity tests across global markets after subscribers said the device is showing signs of screen failure and hinge issues days after launch.

Images shared across social media platforms show the affected screen displaying a bright line of white pixels in the bottom-left corner. Others focused on damage along the middle of the screen, likely from the hinge.

In another shared post was a dancing screen showing images shaking and moving from one region of the screen to another while the phone was in the fold position. Even when the user flipped the screen to its full size, the issue persisted, and the imbalance of the image became more consistent and severe.

Apple foldable cracked screen

Early users also noted that the issue started shortly after unboxing, ranging from hinge creases, rectangular white digital prints, dead pixels, to actual cracks.

An Australian owner said the display cracked after about six hours of ownership and less than 20 openings of the foldable phone. The user added that they felt something beneath the screen near the internal hinge while opening the device to show a friend, and heard a crack as the display broke alongside the hinge.

Also read: Apple unveils iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, sets September 12 for pre-orders.

The issue marks a major setback for Apple, which has long held back from entering the foldable market. Apple had delayed announcing its foldable device to avoid the visible creases and durability flaws that most competitors faced. Now, the widespread negative reviews of hardware failures contradict Apple’s long-standing reputation for polished and reliable product debuts.

In addition, the widespread screen cracking and glitch reports days after launch risk shaking early adopters’ confidence and making global buyers more hesitant to invest in Apple’s first-generation folding device.

Apple isn’t the first to experience a bad opening in the world of foldable phones. Samsung, the market leader in foldable devices, which currently holds roughly 40% of the market, unveiled its first foldable phone in February 2019. But Samsung delayed the product’s release to fix durability issues with the screen and hinge that early product reviewers had flagged.

In its 2019 statement acknowledging the failures and decision to pull back, Samsung said it wanted to take measures to strengthen the display protection. “We will also enhance the guidance on care and use of the display, including the protective layer so that our customers get the most out of their Galaxy Fold,” it said then.

Apple’s foldable crack: What’s happening?

In a short analysis by iFixit, a popular platform that provides device repair guides, the hinge appeared to be the major cause of the malfunction.

iFixit revealed that the display failures tend to cluster near a specific stress position that emanates from the transition area where the central hinge support meets the flex cable opening.

As the phone folds, the elevated central support bar places excessive pressure directly against the flexible OLED panel, potentially causing tears or line faults in the pixel array.

The hinge issue prototype (IM: iFixit)

It added that the folding process relies on internal curved guide rails to dictate the display’s pivot points. During folding, these rails may shift higher than intended, coming into direct mechanical contact with the underside of the screen assembly, thereby creating an uneven force point.

It noted that the above could explain the bright lines that appeared on some devices.

While iFixit said that these findings are not 100% tested pending long-term testing, the physical location of the screen damage correlates with the internal hinge flexibility style. However, users have been advised to avoid forcing the device closed to prevent damage to the screen.

Repair modalities and return moves

Since the issues started, Apple has not made any statement confirming a design or hardware defect, though reports noted that Apple is gathering damaged units and sending them back to engineering teams for inspection, following widespread public outcry.

Also, an unconfirmed report noted that some Apple Stores have been privately exchanging damaged or cracked iPhone Duo units for affected customers under warranty or replacement protocols, despite limited retail inventory. In another case, customers in the US claimed that T-Mobile said it couldn’t replace any parts for the Duo until January.

While Apple has yet to make an official press release on the issue, the company has released its repair price sheet for the iPhone Duo.

Apple iPhone Duo Repair price

Published on its support page, fixing the back glass costs $199, while the rear camera costs $229. For inner display damage, a user will pay $999, while repairs categorised under “other damage” are priced at $1,499.

As users are experiencing issues enjoying the iPhone Duo, the numbers reveal that the device will be a difficult and expensive phone to fix.