iPhone Duo Displays Are Cracking Along the Hinge, and Apple Is Replacing Them

Some of Apple's first foldable iPhones are developing cracks in the inner display along the hinge. Apple has told its stores how to handle the problem, says only a very small percentage of units are affected, and is replacing damaged phones with new ones.

The problem, quickly nicknamed "Crackgate" online, appeared within days of the iPhone Duo going on sale on October 23. Owners shared photos of cracks and bright lines running along the central fold of the 7.6-inch inner display, sometimes with a horizontal line of bright white light breaking off from the main crack. The failures happened during ordinary opening and closing, not after drops or accidents.

Apple tells stores how to respond

Apple sent a memo to its stores and authorised service providers with guidance on how to diagnose and handle the cracked displays. The company has acknowledged that an issue affects the inner display of a small number of units and is directing affected customers to contact AppleCare. Chief executive John Ternus repeated the line after Apple's earnings report on November 2, saying a "very small percentage" of units had been returned with display problems and that Apple is replacing them with new phones.

Apple has not said what causes the cracks, and Ternus did not add a cause. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has reviewed reports from affected owners, says the problem is a genuine hardware fault, not user error or exaggerated claims. He suspects a batch of units shipped with a faulty hinge component that fails to unfold correctly, putting pressure on the flexible display from underneath and causing it to crack. An iFixit analysis has pointed to structural stress on the hinge's flexible cable as a possible contributor.

Replacements are hard to get

Getting a replacement is difficult because of the same shortage that has made the Duo scarce since launch. With new orders showing delivery dates in late January 2027, every replacement phone is one that does not go to a new buyer, and many stores have little or no replacement stock. Owners are advised to contact AppleCare promptly rather than wait, and not to try repairing a foldable display themselves. Reports say an out-of-warranty repair of inner display damage costs $999.

Early durability testing gives a more encouraging picture for most owners: in one test, the Duo was folded 32,640 times without a crack. The problem appears limited to a small batch, but for a $1,999 phone in its first weeks on sale, it is an unwelcome start.

Sources

• MacRumors — Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
• MacDailyNews — iPhone Duo 'Crackgate' Confirmed as Real Hardware Fault
• Memeburn — Apple Still Can't Say When It'll Have Enough iPhone Duo Units