iPhone Duo screen cracks reported in five countries, but fake photos inflate 'Crackgate'

Some iPhone Duo screens are cracking along the hinge within days of purchase, with real cases reported in multiple countries, though the scale of the issue remains unknown as Apple has made no public statement. Owners in Australia, the US, Canada, China and India posted photos of the same fault by Sunday, showing a crack down the center and a stuck white pixel block. Apple Stores have replaced affected units on the spot, confirming genuine failures, while some users reported cracks after fewer than 20 folds. The viral "Crackgate" narrative is inflated by recycled photos, memes and at least one AI-altered image, with fact-checkers finding fakes predating the phone's launch. Durability tests show mixed results, with one YouTuber's bend test failing the device while robot tests exceeded 32,000 folds without cracks.