iPhone Duo Users Are Already Seeing a Big Old Crease in the Middle of Their $2,000 Foldable iPhone

Apple's $2,000 foldable iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Duo, entered the market just two days ago to an overnight sellout at Apple stores. However, photos on social media are revealing a major flaw: a crease running down the middle of the folding screen, and some units are even cracking at that very spot. Users are posting videos of their phones shattering along the crease, dubbing the issue "crackgate."

One Redditor reported cracking their Duo after only six hours and fewer than 20 opens, while another posted a photo showcasing a broad, uneven gulf across the screen. Yet more users noticed a bright white line of stuck pixels stretching from the center to the edges. Tech site iFixit conducted a teardown and suggested that a central support bar may be pressing too hard on the display or that the rails guiding the hinge could be interfering with the screen.

Despite the widespread issues, many customers seem content with their creased phones, claiming it's to be expected for a foldable device. However, those experiencing the white line glitch have generally been able to swap their devices for replacements with Apple. It remains to be seen, though, whether a crease will be covered under Apple's warranty policy. The tech giant has not commented yet on the crease issue.

Apple's Duo arrives seven years after Samsung's Galaxy Fold, which also develops a noticeable crease after prolonged use. However, the high anticipation surrounding the Duo has led to extensive testing by gadget YouTubers and journalists. TheCaseTester subjected the Duo to 1,000 folds, revealing the crease by the end; Tim Pan folded his 11,500 times and saw a similar outcome.

CNET's custom-built folding machine managed 55,000 folds without significant issues. Journalist Joanna Stern found that after 32,000 folds, the Duo remained in good working condition.