“3.3 Million Won, Yet It Cracked with a ‘Snap’ When Unfolded”... Humiliation for iPhone Duo Amid Launch-Day Rush, Outclassed by Galaxy Fold?

Repeated reports of screen damage from users
IT outlets also slam the iPhone Duo

Apple's first foldable smartphone, the "iPhone Duo," was hit by controversy over screen damage immediately after its launch, suffering a humiliating setback.

A case of an iPhone Duo screen being damaged, shared on social media. Screenshot from social media.

According to IT news outlet MacRumors on Oct. 24, photos and posts claiming that the iPhone Duo's inner display had been damaged were recently posted one after another on overseas online communities, including Reddit and the MacRumors forums. After an Australian buyer shared their experience, display problems were also found on display models at stores in China and Japan.

One buyer in Australia claimed that the inner screen broke just six hours after they bought the iPhone Duo. "I'd had the product for about six hours and had unfolded it fewer than 20 times," the buyer said. "The moment I unfolded the screen to show it to a friend, I felt as if something was catching near the internal hinge." The buyer continued: "As I kept unfolding it, I heard a cracking sound, and the screen cracked along the hinge. There was no sign that anything had gotten inside or caused damage to the surface of the inner screen or the exterior of the hinge."

The buyer later visited an Apple Store and immediately exchanged the damaged device. However, it is unclear whether Apple provided any explanation for the exact cause of the damage.

Social networking service (SNS) screenshot

Similar cases were reported not only in Australia but also in the United States, China and Japan. Photos were shared showing bright horizontal or vertical lines on the inner screens of iPhone Duo units on display at local stores.

Because foldable phones are designed to be folded and unfolded repeatedly, the durability of the hinge and inner display is considered a key factor in determining the quality of the finished product.

Along with reports of damage, IT news outlets have criticized the iPhone Duo's ease of use. Despite its high starting price of 3.29 million won in South Korea, reviewers say it is difficult to operate with one hand and that its ability to run multiple applications (apps) simultaneously is limited. Concerns have also been raised about screen creases, repair costs and initial supply shortages, and reviewers have compared it with its competitor, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold8.

U.S. IT outlet The Verge said, "The iPhone Duo lacks ergonomic design, making it virtually impossible to hold and operate with one hand, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 is relatively easier to use one-handed." The Verge also pointed out that some major apps do not make proper use of the iPhone Duo's aspect ratio, causing parts of the screen to be cut off or controls to work inconsistently.

IT outlet Wired criticized the device, saying, "The iPhone Duo's split-screen layout is fixed at a 50:50 ratio, and it is impossible to open additional pop-up apps over the split screen, significantly limiting its multitasking capabilities." By contrast, Mark Spoonauer, editor-in-chief of Tom's Guide, said the Galaxy Z Fold8 has an advantage in productivity because it can display three or more apps on the screen simultaneously and lets users adjust the size of each app.

Despite the criticism, buyers continue to line up for the iPhone Duo. International media, including U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), reported that when sales began, lines formed at stores around the world, including in Singapore, Shanghai, China, London, the UK, and San Francisco, and the device quickly became scarce. The iPhone Duo's retail price in South Korea ranges from 3.29 million to 5.09 million won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.