Is Hingegate the next iPhone Duo controversy? Apple's foldable may still win fans despite first-gen woes

One Redditor didn't encounter the cracked display issue, only to notice another concerning problem. As you can see from the above image, the user noticed their iPhone Duo's hinge looks rather different, almost as if it's bulging. While it reportedly didn't look too obvious initially, the user claims the problem progressively got more noticeable.

Upon contacting Apple Support, however, the user allegedly wasn't offered the resolution they were hoping for. According to their account, they were either asked to pay $99 for an AppleCare+ claim or try to get a replacement unit if their local Apple Store had one in stock.

The final straw for this Redditor was this final update, apparently:

The plot thickens with... purple lines

However concerning it could be to experience hinge issues, things don't seem to end there. Another Redditor posted a short video of their iPhone Duo's screen that shows strange purple lines and/or square-shaped artifacts at different sections of the main display during scrolling.

This person doesn't provide anything besides the video, so it's unclear whether this problem emerged on its own or if something else, such as an accidental drop, could have caused it.

However, the video seems to have attracted a lot of negative attention, and many users chimed in under the thread, sharing their own frustrations.

What to do from here?

If you're one of the many users who are still waiting to receive their iPhone Duo units, all of these concerning reports may easily discourage you. I get it, but hear me out: even if some units are indeed suffering from the iPhone Duo issues I just described, there's no guarantee there's a widespread design flaw with the device.

In case you encounter a similar problem, the best approach is always to seek assistance with Apple itself. Although that wouldn't ensure your issue would be resolved completely, it's still the most sensible first step.

To me, this whole thing is still a mystery

Frankly, I thought the iPhone Duo would significantly challenge Samsung's position at the top of the foldable market. But as concerns keep growing, I have to wonder whether Samsung won't turn out to be the ultimate foldable champ of 2026 after all.

Don't get me wrong: I'm sure the iPhone Duo will find its audience, just like many foldable devices have done so far.

I also wouldn't automatically assume that every problem reported so far proves there's a manufacturing flaw. Without more context, it's difficult to tell whether all of these problems have developed on their own or whether there are other factors at play.