Apple’s Foldable Iphone Faces Cracks as Samsung Takes Aim in Ads and Showdown

WHO:

Yahoo Finance - Centrino31A said the screen was pristine on the outside and at its inner surface, describing the damage as an issue with the underlying display.

The Guardian - Francisco Jeronimo, IDC’s vice-president of data and analytics, said there were too few cases to determine whether the screen issue was significant. Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, said there was no evidence yet of a more widespread issue.

Yahoo Finance - Apple’s suppliers were asked to accelerate production and increase iPhone Duo orders.

Yahoo Finance - Foxconn assembles the iPhone Duo, and TSMC makes its core processor.

Yahoo Finance - Apple Inc. acknowledged an inner-display issue affecting “a small number” of iPhone Duo units and advised affected customers to contact AppleCare for replacements.

Yahoo Finance - Apple CEO John Ternus previously described competing Android foldables as “cheap and crappy”; hardware engineering head Tom Marieb urged customers to hold Apple “accountable” for the screen crease’s durability.

Yahoo Finance - Customers reporting display failures included King; Tom Battle of San Diego; Centrino31A; Vishnu Rajkumar of Chennai, India; Surya Mangi of Allen, Texas; Justin Lokos; and Jainam Shah.

Android Authority - Samsung sponsored an Instagram video mocking the iPhone Duo and promoting the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Tom’s Guide - Apple’s iPhone Duo and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 are compared as competing foldable phones.

WHAT:

Tom’s Guide - The iPhone Duo is listed at £1,999 and AU$3,499 for 256GB; the Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at £1,699 and AU$2,699. The Duo’s 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions are listed at $2,199, $2,599 and $3,199; the Z Fold 8’s 512GB and 1TB versions are listed at $2,099 and $2,499.

Yahoo Finance - Apple shares fell 1.1%, or $3.81, to $343.91, then traded at $343.64 after hours; the article attributed part of the decline to a bearish Jefferies note and reaction to a pricier iPad mini.

Yahoo Finance - Apple was valued at $5.019 trillion, approximately $19 billion above $5 trillion; Nvidia’s market capitalization was $5.215 trillion, $196 billion above Apple’s.

Yahoo Finance - The article said some circulating photos of cracked screens appeared AI-generated, complicating efforts to assess the number of affected phones.

Tom’s Guide - The Galaxy Z Fold 8’s battery lasted 12 hours and 19 minutes in an earlier test; Tom’s Guide said a revised test produced 10 hours and 6 minutes.

Tom’s Guide - The iPhone Duo’s listed dimensions are 117.8 × 84.1 × 11.3 mm when closed and 117.8 × 164.6 × 5.2 mm when open; the Galaxy Z Fold 8 measures 123.9 × 81.9 × 9.7 mm closed and 123.9 × 161.4 × 4.5 mm open.

Tom’s Guide - The iPhone Duo is listed in Night Sky and Star White; the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is listed in Graphite, Cream, Lavender and Pistachio.

Yahoo Finance - Apple said the iPhone Duo issue affects a small number of units and that affected devices show defects quickly.

Yahoo Finance - Apple has encountered earlier iPhone hardware problems: the iPhone 6 Plus could bend easily, and the iPhone 4 sometimes lost reception when users touched the antenna cutout.

Android Authority - Some online users called the iPhone Duo durability controversy “crackgate.”

404 Media - Some users reported a visible crease without a crack; one Reddit user said it appeared after fewer than 20 openings. iFixit proposed that a central support bar might not retract properly or hinge guide rails might interfere with the display.

404 Media - Fold tests reported creasing after 1,000 folds by TheCaseTester and 11,500 folds by Tim Pan; CNET’s custom machine had passed 55,000 folds, while Joanna Stern said the phone felt “pretty much the same” after 32,000 folds.

The Guardian - An Australian owner said the iPhone Duo’s screen cracked within six hours of getting the phone; the user said an Apple Store replaced it immediately. The Guardian said it could not verify the account.

The Guardian - Apple said the response from early users had been “incredibly positive” and demand for the Duo had been “nothing short of extraordinary.”

The Guardian - Apple’s CEO John Ternus took over from Tim Cook in September.

Tom’s Guide - The iPhone Duo has an A20 Pro chipset, 12GB RAM, two 48-megapixel rear cameras, 60W wired charging, and a 1–120Hz refresh rate; the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, 12–16GB RAM, two 50-megapixel rear cameras, 45W wired charging, and a 1–120Hz refresh rate.

Tom’s Guide - In benchmark tests, the Duo scored 4,007 single-core and 11,363 multi-core in Geekbench 7, and 16,496 in 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited, averaging 62.3 frames per second. The Z Fold 8 scored 2,978, 9,811, and 12,454, averaging 47.35 frames per second.

Tom’s Guide - Tom’s Guide said the Duo’s zoomed photos became blurrier and more pixelated than the Z Fold 8’s at 10x magnification, while the Duo performed better in low light and with outer-screen selfies.

Tom’s Guide - The Duo includes Siri AI features in iOS 27, including personal-context understanding, advanced dictation, Clean Up, Extend and Reframe photo editing, and a smart-tracking camera feature. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 includes Now Nudge, Now Brief and an upgraded Circle to Search.

Tom’s Guide - Apple’s Duo taskbar is fixed to the screen’s right side, and its two-app multitasking is less consistent in portrait mode; Samsung’s phone supports Flex Mode, which adjusts its interface to the hinge angle.

Yahoo Finance - Apple asked suppliers to increase iPhone Duo orders by 30%; reported shipment estimates rose from about 6 million units to between 8 million and 10 million units.

Yahoo Finance - Reported iPhone Duo shipments are expected to reach 33 million units by 2027.

Yahoo Finance - A second wave of iPhone Duo shipments is expected to begin on January 22.

Tom’s Guide - The iPhone Duo’s cover display measures 5.4 inches, compared with 5.5 inches on the Galaxy Z Fold 8; both foldable displays measure 7.6 inches.

Tom’s Guide - Tom’s Guide measured peak brightness at 2,558 nits for the Duo and 2,649 nits for the Z Fold 8, and said the Duo’s nano-texture display had lower color saturation and contrast than Samsung’s main display.

Tom’s Guide - The phones have IP68 and IP48 ratings, respectively; Tom’s Guide said the Duo is sealed against dust while the Z Fold 8 is not, and both offer short-term water-submersion protection.

Tom’s Guide - The Duo supports Apple Pencil USB-C and has a 12-megapixel selfie camera beneath its inner display; the Z Fold 8 has two 10-megapixel front cameras.

Tom’s Guide - The Z Fold 8 supports up to three split-screen apps and five floating app windows, plus DeX desktop mode. The Duo supports two side-by-side apps and has no equivalent desktop mode.

Tom’s Guide - In charging tests, the Duo reached 42% after 15 minutes and 66% after 30 minutes; the Z Fold 8 reached 43% and 70%, respectively. The Duo supports 25W wireless charging; the Z Fold 8 supports 20W and lacks internal magnets for Qi2 or MagSafe accessories.

Tom’s Guide - The Duo’s storage options range from 256GB to 2TB, priced from $1,999 to $3,199; the Z Fold 8 ranges from 256GB to 1TB, priced from $1,899 to $2,499.

Yahoo Finance - Customers reported iPhone Duo inner screens cracking after hours or days of use. Reported symptoms included a crunching sound, a crack along the center crease, white patches or malfunctioning display areas, and a bump beneath the screen.

Yahoo Finance - Apple said most units were unaffected and defects appeared quickly. Bloomberg independently verified reports with more than half a dozen customers; it did not encounter the problem on its Apple-provided review unit or a separately purchased device.

Yahoo Finance - iFixit said a failing hinge component may be cracking the screen, rather than the display panel itself. Apple employees said a team was investigating and engineers were seeking affected devices.

Yahoo Finance - Customers reported varied replacement experiences: Rajkumar obtained a replacement from an authorized reseller; Apple shipped Mangi one by express mail; Lokos received one at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store; and Shah said an Apple Store replaced his immediately.

Android Authority - Samsung’s ad showed a green apple sliced in half, then the Galaxy Z Fold 8, claiming it is 1.6 millimeters thinner and 53 grams lighter than the iPhone Duo. Its closing line was “Years ahead in Foldables.”

Android Authority - A poll of 723 readers found 36% said the durability issue ruined their confidence, 12% said it affected confidence only in this first-generation model, 31% would not have bought the phone anyway, 7% expected Apple to fix it, 12% would not buy a foldable, and 1% chose “Something else.”

Tom’s Guide - The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999; the Galaxy Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899. The Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display, 4,883-mAh battery and weighs 254 grams; the Z Fold 8 has a 7.6-inch inner display, 4,800-mAh battery and weighs 201 grams.

Tom’s Guide - In Tom’s Guide testing, the Duo lasted 13 hours 20 minutes versus 10 hours 6 minutes for the Z Fold 8. The review reported stronger Duo performance, battery life and overall camera results, while the Z Fold 8 offered more multitasking options and a higher Geekbench AI score: 72,242 versus 69,438.

WHERE:

Yahoo Finance - Apple is based in Cupertino, California. Customers described incidents or support visits in San Diego, Richmond, Virginia; Chennai, India; Allen, Texas; and New York City.

Android Authority - Samsung’s sponsored ad was shared on Instagram.

Tom’s Guide - The comparison covered the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8, with availability and prices listed in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

WHEN:

Yahoo Finance - Apple’s iPhone Duo preorders sold out within minutes on October 16, 2026; the phone reached stores on October 23, 2026.

Yahoo Finance - Apple first closed above a $5 trillion market value on October 14, 2026, at $342.96 per share.

Yahoo Finance - Customers said cracks appeared after hours or days of use; Mangi reported failure after about 30 hours, and Rajkumar said his replacement had worked for his first 24 hours.

Tom’s Guide - The article said iPhone Duo delivery estimates ranged from the end of November to late December and January.

WHY:

The Guardian - Francisco Jeronimo said screen problems can occur when a new product comes to market and pointed to Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold problems in 2019, saying a fast, transparent response can contain damage to a product category.

Yahoo Finance - Bloomberg reported that Apple had spent more than a decade developing the Duo and promoted its durability, hinge design and display technology; the display complaints were described as a setback for the company.

Yahoo Finance - Apple sought higher production and orders amid strong demand and an initial supply that was insufficient to meet demand.

Tom’s Guide - The Z Fold 8’s anti-glare coating is designed to improve visibility in low-light conditions; Apple’s nano-texture display is designed to minimize glare and reduce crease visibility.

Yahoo Finance - Apple said the problem affected a small number of units; iFixit suggested a hinge component could be the source of the cracking.

Android Authority - Samsung’s ad highlighted the Fold 8’s slimmer, lighter design amid reports of iPhone Duo display cracks.

HOW:

Tom’s Guide - The iPhone Duo’s under-display inner camera is designed for FaceTime and video calls, rather than selfies.

Yahoo Finance - Apple conducted an Early Field Failure Analysis on Justin Lokos’s device.

Yahoo Finance - Apple tested Centrino31A’s device to check for accidental damage; the store had no replacement inventory, leaving him waiting for a replacement.

Yahoo Finance - Customers said cracks occurred during ordinary unfolding; some described resistance or stiffness, followed by a crunch or audible crack. Apple tested some devices to assess whether accidental damage had occurred.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 19:01 UTC)

Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo units have an inner-display defect and is advising affected customers to contact AppleCare for replacements, after users reported screens cracking or creasing within hours or days. Analysts say there are too few cases to determine whether the problem is widespread, and some circulating images may be AI-generated, making the scale difficult to assess. Despite the reports, Apple has asked suppliers Foxconn and TSMC to boost production, raising shipment estimates from about 6 million phones to between 8 million and 10 million.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 14:10 UTC)

Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo foldables have developed inner-screen defects, including cracks and display failures, and is advising affected customers to contact AppleCare for replacements while engineers investigate. Reports describe problems appearing within hours or days, but analysts say there are too few cases to establish whether the issue is widespread, and Apple says most units are unaffected. At the same time, Apple has asked suppliers Foxconn and TSMC to accelerate production and increase orders by 30%, lifting shipment estimates from about 6 million to as many as 10 million units.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 13:20 UTC)

Apple says inner-screen defects have affected a small number of iPhone Duo units, with customers reporting cracks, display problems and unusual sounds after hours or days of use; the company is investigating and advises affected owners to contact AppleCare for replacements. Repair experts have suggested a hinge component could be involved, but analysts say there is not yet enough evidence to establish a widespread problem, and durability tests have produced mixed results. At the same time, Apple has asked suppliers Foxconn and TSMC to boost production, raising reported shipment estimates from about 6 million to between 8 million and 10 million units, while Samsung has used the reports to promote its competing Galaxy Z Fold 8.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 01:28 UTC)

Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo foldable phones have developed inner-screen problems, including cracks and display failures, and is advising affected customers to contact AppleCare for replacements while engineers investigate. Some reports describe failures within hours or days, but analysts say there is not enough evidence to establish a widespread issue, and Apple says most phones are unaffected. At the same time, Apple has asked suppliers Foxconn and TSMC to boost production and raised its shipment estimate from about 6 million units to between 8 million and 10 million.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 23:59 UTC)

Apple has asked suppliers Foxconn and TSMC to boost iPhone Duo production by 30 percent amid strong demand, raising shipment estimates to as many as 10 million units. At the same time, the company acknowledged inner-screen failures in a small number of phones, with customers reporting cracks and other display problems after hours or days of use; Apple is investigating and offering replacements. In comparisons with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Duo delivered stronger performance and battery life in testing, while Samsung’s phone offered more multitasking options and better zoomed photos.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 22:06 UTC)

Apple has asked suppliers to increase iPhone Duo orders by 30 percent as demand outpaces supply, raising shipment estimates from about 6 million to as many as 10 million units. At the same time, customers have reported inner screens cracking after hours or days of ordinary use; Apple says the issue affects a small number of phones and is offering replacements while engineers investigate a possible hinge problem. Samsung is highlighting its competing Galaxy Z Fold 8, while comparisons show the phones have similar-size inner displays, with the Duo offering longer battery life and the Fold 8 more multitasking features.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 21:03 UTC)

Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo foldables have developed inner-screen failures, with customers reporting cracks, white patches and crunching sounds after hours or days of ordinary use; the company is investigating and is directing affected customers to AppleCare for replacements. Samsung is using the reports to promote its Galaxy Z Fold 8, while testing found the phones share a 7.6-inch inner display but differ in areas including weight, multitasking and battery life. The Duo starts at $1,999 and the Z Fold 8 at $1,899, and reviewers found the Duo lasted longer in battery tests while Samsung’s phone offered more multitasking features.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 19:21 UTC)

Apple says a small number of iPhone Duo phones have developed inner-screen failures, with customers reporting cracks, white patches and crunching sounds after hours or days of ordinary use. Apple is investigating and directing affected customers to AppleCare for replacements, while repair experts suspect a hinge component may be involved. Samsung is using the reports to promote its Galaxy Z Fold 8, which starts at $1,899 compared with the Duo’s $1,999, and says its phone is thinner and lighter.