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iPhone Duo screens are cracking along the hinge, and Apple is replacing affected units free

Some iPhone Duo inner screens have cracked along the hinge within days. Apple's statement, the free AppleCare replacement, iFixit's suspected cause, and what to do if yours is affected.

iPhone Duo fully open in portrait, with a Zoom call on the lower half of the inner display and a document on the upper half
The iPhone Duo fully open, with the hinge running across the middle of its inner display | Image: Apple

iPhone Duo screen cracking reports surfaced over the launch weekend, and Apple has now acknowledged the problem. In a statement to 9to5Mac on Monday, October 26, Apple said it is aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units, and that affected owners should contact AppleCare for a replacement. According to 9to5Mac, you do not need AppleCare+ for this replacement, and if you bought your Duo from a carrier, you should contact AppleCare directly rather than your carrier. If your inner screen shows an iPhone Duo crack along the hinge or a bright line across the display, that is the step to take. Apple has not said what is causing it.

Key takeaways

  • Some iPhone Duo inner displays have cracked along the center of the hinge within days of the October 23 launch, often leaving a bright line of stuck pixels across the screen.
  • Apple says the issue affects a small number of units and tends to show up quickly, according to 9to5Mac. Most units are not affected.
  • Affected owners should contact AppleCare for a replacement. No AppleCare+ plan is needed, and carrier buyers should go to AppleCare directly, 9to5Mac reports.
  • Apple has not given a cause. iFixit's theory is that a center hinge support bar may not drop far enough as the phone folds, creating a stress point under the screen.
  • Outside this issue, Apple's listed inner display repair fee is $999 without AppleCare+ and $99 with it.

Is the iPhone Duo screen cracking? What owners reported

Reports appeared on Reddit and other forums over the weekend of October 24 and 25. 9to5Mac reported on October 25 that the affected units all seemed to break the same way: the inner screen cracks down the center line of the hinge, and a horizontal block of pixels is then stuck glowing white. At that point 9to5Mac had seen about ten unique instances, and a couple of owners said theirs cracked during the first setup.

iFixit, collecting the same reports, says owners describe opening or closing the phone, hearing a noise, and then seeing a small line down the fold and a bright line across the display. iFixit points to one owner whose screen broke within six hours of buying the phone, and quotes a Reddit user who described the hinge getting tight and then making "a loud pop."

Some caution is warranted. 9to5Mac notes that while a number of the Reddit reports are legitimate, there have also been a handful of fake AI-generated reports. These reports describe screens failing during normal opening and closing, not after a fall; for how the Duo held up to deliberate drops, see AppleTrack's iPhone Duo drop test.

What did Apple say about the iPhone Duo inner screen problem?

Apple's statement to 9to5Mac included this: "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."

According to 9to5Mac, Apple says the problem affects a very small number of units and appears to surface relatively quickly, and most iPhone Duo units are not affected. Apple's statement does not give a cause.

What should I do if my iPhone Duo screen cracks? Contact AppleCare

  • Contact AppleCare for a replacement. That is Apple's instruction for owners who experience issues with the display.
  • You do not need AppleCare+. 9to5Mac reports that no AppleCare+ plan is required for this replacement.
  • Bought from a carrier? Go to AppleCare, not the carrier. 9to5Mac reports that carrier buyers should contact AppleCare directly. Before Apple's statement, 9to5Mac had reported that carrier buyers had less luck, because carriers did not have replacement stock on hand, and that one person was told the damage must have come from a drop.

For how the inner display is built, including its folding OLED and nano-texture finish, see our iPhone Duo display explainer.

What might be causing it?

Apple has not said. iFixit, which tore down the Duo, offers a theory, and it is labeled as one.

In iFixit's analysis, the reported breaks cluster near the transition from the gap where a flex cable crosses the hinge to the central hinge support. The damage it sees in photos is not right where the display cable passes through the hinge, but slightly lower, where several edges meet. iFixit says the symptoms point away from the cable itself. Its proposed explanation: in its closing simulation, the center support bar fails to drop far enough, and the screen's curved fold comes down onto it, creating a small stress hotspot near the reported break location. iFixit presents this as one possible answer, not a confirmed cause.

iFixit also called the Duo the most repairable foldable it has taken apart, with a provisional 5 out of 10 for repairability, the highest it has given a foldable phone. The full specs page lists what Apple confirms about the hinge and displays.

How much does an iPhone Duo screen replacement cost if you are not covered?

The free replacement applies to the inner display issue Apple has acknowledged. For other damage, such as a drop, Apple's listed fee for inner display damage is $999 without AppleCare+ and $99 with it. Our AppleCare+ guide covers the full fee list and whether coverage pays off, and the monthly cost and carriers guide covers AppleCare+ pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the iPhone Duo screen cracking?

On a small number of units, yes. Since the iPhone Duo went on sale on October 23, some owners have reported inner displays cracking along the center line of the hinge, often with a bright line of stuck pixels across the screen. Apple told 9to5Mac on October 26 that it is aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units. Most units are not affected.

What should I do if my iPhone Duo screen cracks?

Contact AppleCare for a replacement. Apple says users who experience issues with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare, and 9to5Mac reports that you do not need AppleCare+ for this replacement. If you bought your Duo from a carrier, contact AppleCare directly rather than your carrier.

Will Apple replace a cracked iPhone Duo screen for free?

For this inner display issue, Apple is replacing affected units through AppleCare, and 9to5Mac reports that no AppleCare+ plan is needed. That applies to the hinge cracking Apple has acknowledged. Other damage, such as from a drop, falls under Apple's standard repair fees.

How much does it cost to repair an iPhone Duo screen?

Apple's listed fee for inner display damage is $999 without AppleCare+ and $99 with it. Those are the standard repair fees for damage. Units affected by the hinge cracking issue Apple acknowledged on October 26 are being replaced through AppleCare instead, with no AppleCare+ plan required, according to 9to5Mac.

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