Apple’s first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, has drawn strong demand and a lengthy waitlist. Yet some early iPhone Duo owners say the inner display is cracking along the central hinge, and a few have described second thoughts about the purchase.
The cracking screen
Several initial buyers have reported hairline fractures on the iPhone Duo’s center fold, in some cases accompanied by a bright line of stuck pixels on one half of the inner screen. Apple has said the issue involves a small number of devices and advised affected customers to seek a replacement through AppleCare.
The complaints have fueled a wave of crack-themed jokes and custom wallpapers across social platforms. Some widely shared images of damaged Duo displays have been altered or generated with AI, according to online posts.
One account circulated a tongue-in-cheek wallpaper for users who cannot afford the device but want to “experience the crack.”
Apple said feedback from early iPhone Duo users has been “incredibly positive.” The company added that customers experiencing display issues should contact AppleCare for support and replacement.
The crypto memes
The iPhone Duo also found an audience in crypto circles after the official Crypto.com account suggested earlier in October that a folding phone format suits traders. That association quickly spawned memes riffing on stereotypes of crypto traders as overconfident or unemployed.
The multi-screen design
Commentary online has questioned whether the iPhone Duo’s multi-screen setup could further fragment attention by enabling multiple tasks at once. The inner 7.6-inch display supports two apps side by side, while the 5.4-inch outer screen can be used when the phone is closed.
The configuration has inspired jokes about the “performative male,” a term used for men who publicly feign interest in niche books or music to impress others. Another widely shared clip, more demonstrative than comedic, suggested the device could intensify doomscrolling.
For those who find one screen insufficient for nightly scrolling, the iPhone Duo arrives as a $1,999 option. Earlier this month, prosecutors raised concerns about alleged foreign backing for former AI staff in a separate case, detailed in Prosecutors allege Saudi government support for ex-OpenAI staffer.