Apple's First Foldable Cracks Under Pressure, Literally

Apple confirmed it is aware of display problems on "a small number" of its new iPhone Duo units, its first foldable phone and the most expensive device it sells, priced from roughly $2,300 to $3,700 depending on the market. Early buyers started posting photos on Reddit over the weekend showing vertical cracks down the center of the inner display and bright lines near the hinge, some appearing within hours of use. The internet has already named it "crackgate."

Apple's statement did not explain what is causing the damage, only that affected customers should contact AppleCare for a replacement. That is a notably thin response for a phone this expensive, and for a feature the company spent years marketing as its answer to Samsung and Google's head start in foldables. Apple called early customer response "incredibly positive," a line that reads very differently next to a hashtag about screens splitting at the hinge.

The Duo sold out within minutes of its launch, and Apple has already pushed back shipping times to meet demand. A hardware brand that built its reputation on fit and finish is now in exactly the position its advertising was designed to prevent: customers debating whether a flagship product is reliable, in public, days after launch.

Source: The National

Kyle Duford, Founder & Editor, BRNDWIRE. More from Kyle →