iPhone Duo cracks are real, and Apple's 'small number' may not be so small

The iPhone Duo's reports of cracked screens have been observed by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman to be from real customers during normal use, and Apple's claim of only a "small number" of units suffering from this issue could very well mean thousands. This is even though Apple pitched it as tougher than Android foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

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Gurman says the "small number" of iPhone Duo units with a hinge issue could be in the thousands

You might recall from our earlier coverage of the iPhone Duo screen cracking issue that many of the affected users are reporting that initially the hinge feels unusually tight when opening, then a crunching sound follows right before a crack. Most of these reports also show a crack running along the center and right side of the inner screen. Gurman, who is Bloomberg's chief Apple correspondent, states in his latest Power On newsletter that he verified some of these reports himself and he could attest that the damage appeared during normal use of the phone based on evidence he saw prior to publishing his own report.



Apple subsequently acknowledged the issue and claimed it only affects a "small number" of units, without giving an exact figure and therefore leaving the full extent of the damage up to interpretation. Gurman's suspicion is that a batch of iPhone Duo units may have shipped with a faulty hinge component that is not unfolding properly, pressing on the display and puncturing it from underneath.

Gurman and iFixit both point at the hinge, not the screen

Gurman also pointed out that he's noticed some influencers and video creators dismissing the "crackgate" reports as user error, AI fakes or just overblown accounts. However, he pushed back on these, stating that the ones he saw himself were from real customers with real devices that cracked during normal use.

During iFixit's breakdown, they reported a couple of theories they came up with for what is causing the damage. One of them is that a center support bar may not be lowering fully as the phone closes and the other is that the curved guide rails could be rising into the panel. Both would cause pressure on the screen from underneath, near where the cracks show up. However, they are still theories and not a confirmed diagnosis.

Either way, both Gurman and iFixit's takes point at the hinge being the problem, not the display panel. Apple hasn't officially named a cause, but based on both of these reports a new Duo owner with a hinge that suddenly feels stiff should probably take that as a warning sign.

The iPhone Duo issues so far have been different from the ones that Galaxy Z Fold 8 owners reported back when the phone launched. One of those was that the inner screen corners were sinking slightly when pressed, to which Samsung said it was by design as a built-in cushioning structure, and not a defect. The Duo's hinge issues obviously don't affect Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold owners since the suspected fault is in the Duo's own hinge.

If you are one of those who are indeed having the hinge issue with your Duo, note that Apple's recommendation is to contact AppleCare for a replacement. AppleCare+, the one you have to pay for, isn't needed for this type of repair, though.

What I'd do if I had a hinge issue on my Duo

I was recently able to pick up an iPhone Duo from an Apple Store and have yet to encounter an issue with my hinge (knock on wood), but if I noticed the hinge suddenly feeling stiff, I'd contact AppleCare immediately, rather than waiting around for damage to actually develop or the screen to break. However, I'd be fully prepared to have to wait a bit since stock is limited and a replacement may not be available right away.

It is sort of reassuring that Apple responded quickly to the reports and is replacing affected units. However, I would love to see the replacement line move just as fast as the response was.

More on the iPhone Duo and its screen issue:

• Apple breaks its silence on the iPhone Duo's cracked screens
• iPhone Duo: release date, price, specs and must-know features
• Apple iPhone Duo

• Follow me on X and Threads

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