iPhone Duo Sparks 'Crackgate' Backlash as Early Adopters Rush to Return Defective Devices

Apple’s newest foldable, the iPhone Duo, is already gathering a pile of returns despite being on shelves for less than a week. Priced at £2,000, the device has quickly earned a reputation for frustration rather than innovation. Early adopters are reporting cracks, dead pixels, and mysterious lines spreading across the screen within days of purchase. Some users describe an unexpected stiffness in the hardware, followed by an audible "pop" that leaves the display shattered. This phenomenon has sparked a frenzy online, with "crackgate" becoming the buzzword of choice among disappointed fans.

The backlash extends beyond just broken hardware. Reports circulating on Reddit indicate that owners with perfectly functional screens are still sending their expensive gadgets back. One user couldn't wait out the standard two-week return window. They returned the device the very next day, admitting that while the phone might suit some, it simply wasn't for them. Another customer found immediate relief in switching back to their iPhone 17 Pro. "No hassle, no tiny screen, no hand gymnastics to find the Touch ID button, no heavy folded phone," they explained, highlighting how much easier the standard form factor felt by comparison.

The specific gripes are detailed and varied. User @amirsadeghi noted that while the large inner display was enjoyable, the outer screen was too small to be useful for daily tasks. Their phone usage habits involve passing time on the toilet, during transit, or checking Twitter in boring meetings. With the Duo, those moments became a hassle. Folded, the device is heavy and the screen is impractically small. Unfolded, it offers a full immersion experience that feels excessive for a quick break from boredom. The lack of Face ID added to the frustration. Even with an Apple Watch set up to unlock the phone, using Touch ID elsewhere meant constantly hunting for the power button, a button whose location kept shifting depending on how the phone was opened. At one point, the annoyance was so intense that they grabbed their old phone just to get work done.

Other users are citing similar issues. @peekapoutine returned their iPhone Duo in under 24 hours, pointing to the small front screen and Touch ID as dealbreakers. They also flagged the rotating inner screen, the matte finish, and the camera performance. While the matte finish is nice, it lacks the vibrancy of standard iPhone screens. The cameras are merely okay, especially when compared to the Pro Max models. Taking a selfie with the main cameras requires unfolding the phone completely flat, effectively holding up an iPad mini. That is super inconvenient.

App optimization is another major sticking point. @TechnologicalHuman argued that waiting months for developers to adapt their apps is not an option. The unoptimized 4-inch apps are simply too much to handle in this new form factor. One user even explained that they returned the iPhone Duo to opt for the iPhone 18 Pro Max instead. The pattern is clear: the combination of physical quirks, software gaps, and hardware reliability issues has turned early excitement into a wave of regret. For communities looking to invest in next-generation tech, the risk of buying into a launch that feels rushed and flawed is very real.

The $2,200 price tag suddenly looks like a joke when you can't even glance at the screen without wincing. A fresh wave of frustration is sweeping through social media, where dozens of Apple customers are posting photos of their new iPhone Duos shattering almost immediately after purchase. This isn't just a minor cosmetic flaw. It is a structural failure happening hours, sometimes minutes, after the box is opened.

The damage follows a disturbingly consistent pattern. A massive crack tears down the central crease. About a third of the way up, the glass chips out in a jagged hole. Meanwhile, a bright line of dead pixels stretches across the entire right-hand display. One Reddit user reported the device cracked just three hours after they bought it. They claimed they had opened the phone "maybe 20 times tops" before hearing a distinct pop and finding the screen shattered.

Another owner had the phone for roughly six hours. They opened it fewer than 20 times. While showing it to a friend, they felt a weird resistance around the internal hinge underneath the screen. As they kept opening it, they heard an audible crack. The screen broke right along the hinge. It wasn't subtle. It was loud.

Then there is the user who "didn't even make it through setup." They opened the phone four times. The hinge got tight. Then it made a loud pop when they pushed past the resistance. The screen cracked before they could even finish the initial configuration.

Apple has acknowledged the problem. The company stated it is aware of "an issue impacting the inner display on a small number" of iPhone Duos. They are urging affected users to contact them for a replacement. For now, those holding a cracked device are left with a broken screen and a very expensive lesson in quality control.