Apple's New Foldable Smartphone Faces Early Screen Failure Reports Worldwide

Buyers of the new two thousand dollar iPhone Duo are reporting cracked inner screens and hinge problems just days after the device went on sale globally. Multiple social media posts show bright lines appearing on the right side of the inner display, with some users hearing a crunch sound while folding or unfolding the phone. The damage often appears near the cable opening and the central hinge support. It is still unclear if these failures affect a large number of units or just a small batch.

Causes

Repair experts at iFixit point to the complex hinge mechanism as a possible cause for the screen damage. Their teardown analysis suggests that a central support bar sometimes fails to retract properly when the phone closes, which puts too much pressure on the display. Curved rails that guide the hinge movement may also interfere with the screen, while several structural edges converge near the affected area and concentrate stress on the delicate display layers. Apple has not yet issued any official guidance on how users should handle the device.

Launch

Apple launched the foldable phone on Friday, October 23, with strong demand in cities like Singapore, Shanghai, London, and San Francisco. The company limited sales and capped pre-orders at two handsets per customer, causing estimated delivery dates to slip to late January within minutes. In India, the phone was restricted to online buyers only. This launch is also an early test for new Apple CEO John Ternus, who took charge in September.

Context

Foldable phones use flexible inner displays and advanced hinge designs to bend in half without breaking the screen. Other major tech brands like Samsung and Huawei have sold similar devices for years, but Apple's entry is seen as a major test to make foldables popular with a wider audience. Market researchers expect Apple to capture a large share of the foldable market in the coming years as production ramps up.