Apple’s first foldable iPhone is earning praise for its sleek design, innovative engineering and nearly invisible screen crease. However, its bulky build, camera compromises and inconsistent app support have raised concerns about whether the $1,999 iPhone Duo is worth the steep price tag.
Adding to those concerns, early reports suggest the expensive foldable smartphone may be prone to cracking.
The iPhone Duo hits stores Friday after receiving mixed reviews from major tech publications. Engadget awarded the device an impressive 8.8 out of 10, while The Verge and WIRED each gave Apple’s debut foldable iPhone a 7 out of 10.
A photo shared on Reddit shows an iPhone Duo with a cracked screen, raising concerns about the durability of Apple’s first foldable smartphone.
Despite the reported issues, tech reviewers have largely praised the device. Engadget hailed Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone as “worth the wait,” while The Verge called it a “messy, expensive, good time.”
WIRED was similarly impressed, describing the iPhone Duo as an “astonishingly good first foldable.”
The smartphone opens to reveal a 7.6-inch matte display designed to minimize glare. Its advanced hinge mechanism also allows the screen to open smoothly and remain positioned at various angles.
But not everyone is celebrating Apple’s latest innovation. By Friday afternoon, several Reddit users had shared troubling accounts of cracked screens, raising questions about the device’s durability.
“iPhone Duo screen cracked within 6 hours of ownership,” one frustrated buyer wrote on Reddit.
The user claimed the damage occurred while showing the new phone to a friend, saying they suddenly “felt something around the internal hinge, underneath the screen.”
“As I continued opening it, I heard an audible crack, and the screen broke right along the hinge,” the user explained. “There were no marks or damage on the inner screen’s surface or the external hinge to suggest anything had been caught or damaged.”
The customer reportedly returned to an Apple store, where employees replaced the damaged iPhone Duo with a new device.
Another Reddit user shared footage of a similarly damaged phone, suggesting the cracking might not be an isolated incident.
“Looks like some of them are cracking in the exact same area,” the user commented.
A separate Reddit post featuring another cracked iPhone Duo raised similar concerns, with the caption reading: “I’ve seen several iPhone Duos with damage in this exact same spot.”
Apple’s new iPhone Duo smartphones were showcased during a launch event in Manhattan on Friday, drawing attention from tech enthusiasts and reviewers alike.
Despite growing concerns over cracked screens, critics praised the foldable iPhone’s premium titanium construction and impressively smooth hinge mechanism.
However, Apple’s efforts to minimize the display crease haven’t eliminated it completely. Several reviewers noted that the fold remains visible from certain angles and can still be felt when swiping a finger across the screen.
The iPhone Duo’s anti-reflective coating also presents some drawbacks. While it helps reduce glare, critics found that colors appear less vibrant and blacks lack the richness seen on Apple’s traditional high-end iPhones.
The device’s size and weight emerged as major sticking points. Weighing 254 grams and measuring 11.3 millimeters thick when folded, the iPhone Duo was frequently criticized for its bulky design.
Its compact 5.4-inch outer display also divided reviewers. Some appreciated the smaller, more portable form factor, while others complained that browsing websites and navigating apps felt cramped.
The Wall Street Journal offered one of the toughest reviews of Apple’s $1,999 foldable iPhone, summing up its shortcomings with the headline: “Too Much iPhone, Too Little iPad.”
