'Folded Just 20 Times and the Screen Cracked': Apple's First Foldable Phone Hit by 'Crackgate'

Starting at a launch price of 3.29 million won, Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, has been embroiled in controversy over damaged screens right from its release. Photos and videos quickly spread across social media, ranging from consumers who reported cracks on their screens before even arriving home after purchasing new units, to cases where the display broke after being folded and unfolded fewer than 20 times. What stands out in particular is that the location and pattern of the cracked screens are largely similar: the cracks mostly originated right down the center of the screen, along the fold. As the controversy surrounding the so-called "Crackgate" grew, Apple eventually acknowledged defects in certain units and decided to offer free replacements just three days after launch. This is a rather unusual response for Apple, a company that has long stressed flawless build quality. Yet, a question arises. Samsung Electronics launched its first foldable phone back in 2019. Why did Apple, releasing its first foldable phone seven years later, run into such an issue as soon as it hit the market? To understand this, it is necessary to first examine the structure of a foldable phone. A foldable phone is designed with a display that repeatedly bends and unfolds. It must function normally not just once or twice, but across hundreds of thousands of folds. Because of this, foldable phone manufacturers conduct durability tests folding and unfolding devices more than 500,000 times.

It is not merely a matter of making the display bend smoothly. What plays a crucial role here is the "hinge." Acting like a mechanical joint that allows the phone to fold and unfold, it connects two parts of the screen while delicately controlling the folding movement of the display. In particular, multiple components, including metal plates that support the screen, are placed directly beneath the display. These parts must move precisely in tandem with the display. However, another challenge emerges here: a crease tends to remain right down the middle of the screen. Those who have used foldable phones will know that when unfolded, a crease-like line appears where the screen folds in half. Eliminating or minimizing this has long been a major technical hurdle for foldable phone makers. Apple was likely no exception. Experts explain that since Apple entered the foldable phone market late, the company devoted considerable effort to minimizing the screen crease. The problem lies in simultaneously making the screen appear completely flat while ensuring it can be folded safely over a prolonged period. Modifying the folding mechanism requires taking into account the components supporting the display, the hinge's movement, and the clearances between parts. Because multiple interconnected components must interlock with extreme precision, design and manufacturing become correspondingly difficult.

What, then, actually went wrong with the iPhone Duo? There are three main possibilities: a defect in the parts themselves, an issue during the assembly process, or a flaw in Apple's design itself.

[Kim Hyun-jae / Professor, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University: "Because Apple designed everything—from the overall phone design to the assembly of parts—I believe there is a chance an error occurred during Apple's design process."]

A design flaw here means there could have been problems with the structure of the components supporting the display, the hinge mechanism, or how the components interlock. The display panels for the iPhone Duo are known to be supplied by Samsung Display. Even when using panels from the same display maker, the structure and hinge design of the finished smartphone vary by phone manufacturer. This is why a broken screen cannot automatically be assumed to stem from a defective display panel itself. Another possibility is that an issue occurred during the assembly process. In a foldable phone, the hinge and screen-supporting components must be assembled with exact precision. If parts are slightly misaligned or exceed permissible tolerance limits, unexpected mechanical stress can be applied to certain areas as the device is folded and unfolded.

[Hong Yong-taek / Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University: "That could be the case. But if it were a design flaw, there should be a large number of affected units, though it's hard to know for sure. I haven't verified it myself, but since reports and announcements point to a small number of cases, it might be that issues arose from poor quality control during actual manufacturing, allowing defective units to slip through."]

If the issue is limited to certain units affected during the assembly process, it can be addressed by improving manufacturing processes and quality inspections. Conversely, if it is a fundamental design flaw, Apple may have to review the structural design of the components altogether. At this point, of course, it remains impossible to definitively pinpoint the cause.

Another intriguing aspect of this controversy is Apple's response. Shortly after the defect controversy surfaced, Apple admitted problems with some devices and decided to provide free replacements. Why did Apple move so swiftly? Apple's standing in the foldable phone market needs to be taken into account. This marks Apple's first entry into the foldable phone segment. At a time when it must catch up with competitors already firmly established in the market, quality concerns emerged right from its very first product. Consumers had already voiced complaints about long waits to receive their orders due to initial supply shortages; if distrust regarding product durability widens, consumers may hesitate to purchase or decide to cancel their orders altogether.

[Hong Yong-taek / Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University: "Entering the foldable market somewhat late, Apple naturally wants to secure a significant share. However, with word currently spreading about delivery delays after placing orders, if early adopters continuously report defects, things will not go as originally intended. That seems to be why Apple is moving fast to apologize, replace units quickly, and internally tighten quality control."]

Indeed, as the iPhone Duo suffered supply shortages immediately upon release, listings with markups exceeding 500,000 won appeared on secondhand trading platforms. Since the screen crack controversy broke, however, listings priced below retail have begun to emerge one after another.

Is this controversy purely bad news for Apple alone? The foldable display used in the iPhone Duo is supplied by Samsung Display. From the industry's perspective, if sales of Apple's foldable phones grow, panel shipments from Samsung Display will rise, and an increase in free replacements leading to more orders for new displays would not be detrimental either. On the other hand, if this quality controversy drags on and consumer distrust in foldable phones themselves grows, it could become an obstacle to expanding the overall market. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once remarked that when you are a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you do not use cheap plywood on the back just because nobody will see it. He was emphasizing a product philosophy that perfection must extend even to the parts hidden from sight. In a foldable phone, where the intricate movement of hinges and numerous components concealed beneath the screen are vital, attention is focused on how Apple will navigate this quality controversy that struck with its very first device.

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