Rising Reports of iPhone Duo Screen Cracks Raise Concerns Over Build Quality

Mark Gurman has reported an increasing number of cases where the foldable iPhone Duo screen cracked during normal use, raising concerns about the extent of the issue despite the company's claim that only a "small number" of devices are affected. This comes despite the phone being promoted as more durable than foldable Android phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Many affected users reported an unusual stiffness in the phone's hinge when opening it, followed by a cracking sound before the screen developed cracks, mostly along the inner middle and right side. Gurman personally verified some of these cases and concluded that the damage occurred during normal use based on the evidence he reviewed. The company acknowledged the problem but stated it was limited to a "small number" of devices without providing exact figures, leaving the actual scope open to speculation. Gurman suggests that a batch of iPhone Duo phones may have a defective hinge component that prevents proper opening, causing pressure on the screen and resulting in cracks at the bottom. He noted that some influencers and content creators downplayed these reports, attributing them to misuse or AI-generated images, but Gurman refuted these claims, confirming the authenticity of the cases he examined. The site iFixit analyzed the phone and proposed two theories to explain the damage: either the central support bar does not fully retract when closing, or the curved guide rails rise toward the screen, creating pressure near the crack area. Analyses indicate the hinge is the source of the problem, not the screen itself, although the company has not officially identified the cause. New owners are advised to treat any sudden stiffness in the hinge as a warning sign. These issues differ from those reported by Galaxy Z Fold 8 users, who experienced slight inward screen dips when pressed, a design feature intended by Samsung to absorb shocks. The hinge problems of the iPhone Duo do not affect Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Pixel 11 Pro Fold users, as the suspected defect is specific to the iPhone Duo's hinge.