Apple Offers iPhone Duo Replacement After ‘Crackgate’ Emerges

Well “crackgate” unfolded for Apple over the weekend and into the new week as some users of the foldable iPhone reported “hearing a crunching sound” while using the new smartphone, only to discover that the display had malfunctioned and the screen had cracked.

X and Reddit users first posted about these malfunctions, along with footage of broken iPhone Duo devices with cracks down the center of their screens. Amid disappointment across some of the user base, Apple, under the new leadership of John Ternus, is trying to make things right.

The company told Reuters it acknowledged the “display problems” and said it would replace affected units.

Here’s what the outlet reported:

Apple acknowledged the problems on Monday, saying affected units tend to show the problem quickly.

“We are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units,” Apple said in a statement. “If users experience issues with their iPhone Duo display, they should contact AppleCare for a replacement.”

We outlined on Monday that the new Duo’s point of failure for the new Duo could be structural and potentially hinge-related, suggesting an issue that may extend far beyond quality control.

The Potential Failure Point

One X user wrote: “The iPhone Duo broke after 75k folds very disappointing to see for a ~ $2000 phone.”

the iPhone Duo broke after 75k folds very disappointing to see for a ~ $2000 phone https://t.co/Q08NlL5S2Q

— Holly – I like tech (@AnxiousHolly) October 26, 2026

Repair specialist iFixit said teardown footage, patents and scans suggested a central support bar might not move clear of the display during folding, creating a concentrated stress point near reported damage locations that could cause the screen to break.

Reuters cited research firm IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo, who said Apple’s quick replacement offer is the “right first step,” adding, “We all remember when Samsung experienced problems with the original Galaxy Fold in 2019, but it also showed that a fast and transparent response can contain the damage to a category.”

Apple had years to perfect the Duo, and the utter disappointment just days after launch certainly doesn’t look great for Ternus.