Almost a third of respondents to a survey by the technology publication 9to5Mac said they had returned their new iPhone Duo foldable smartphone after purchasing it. Of the approximately 6,000 responses, around 30 per cent indicated that they had returned the device, amounting to roughly 1,800 responses. The results were published on 12 November 2026 by journalist Ben Lovjoy. However, these are not official Apple statistics, nor do they prove that 30 per cent of all iPhone Duos sold were returned to shops. The open online survey was taken part in by the website\u2019s readers, and the fact that they had purchased the smartphone was not independently verified.<\/p>\n
The 9to5Mac survey followed a report by The Verge, whose journalists spoke to some of the first owners of the iPhone Duo who had decided to return their smartphones within the 14-day return period.<\/p>\n
One of the most common complaints raised by participants in the discussion is that Touch ID is less convenient to use than Face ID. Some owners have got used to unlocking their phones using facial recognition and are reluctant to go back to the fingerprint scanner.<\/p>\n
Others were disappointed with the cameras. Despite having two 48-megapixel modules, the smartphone does not offer all the photographic capabilities of the iPhone 18 Pro.<\/p>\n
Some users have complained that the 5.4-inch external display is too small for their day-to-day tasks. As a result, owners find themselves having to open the device more often, even though they had originally intended to use it as a standard smartphone.<\/p>\n
The complaints also concerned the weight and dimensions. According to Apple\u2019s official specifications, the iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams and is 11.3 mm thick when folded.<\/p>\n
In the comments section of the 9to5Mac survey, one owner described damage to the folding mechanism whilst travelling in Morocco.<\/p>\n
According to him, after spending the night in the Sahara Desert, sand got into the hinge. When he tried to open the smartphone, there was an unusual sound, and subsequently the device stopped opening fully.<\/p>\n
In another case, reported by The Verge, the owner found a crack in the screen on only the second day of use. The phone was replaced, but the buyer subsequently returned the new device as well due to other issues.<\/p>\n
These are isolated user reports, not evidence of a widespread manufacturing fault. Apple positions the design iPhone Duo<\/a> as a durable design and features a special hinge designed to withstand repeated folding.<\/p>\n Despite the significant proportion of negative responses, the results of the poll cannot be used to estimate the overall return rate for smartphones.<\/p>\n The survey was carried out amongst readers of a specialist technology publication. Participation was voluntary, and the organisers did not check any proof of purchase for the devices.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, in the comments on the post, one reader admitted that he had voted for the return of the iPhone Duo simply to see the results. According to him, he hadn\u2019t actually ordered the smartphone at all. This casts doubt on the accuracy of the statistics obtained.<\/p>\n Author of the article Ben Lovjoy<\/strong> nor does it regard the figure as an indication of a serious problem for Apple<\/a>. He explains that the first foldable iPhone<\/a> became a trial purchase for many fans of the brand who wanted to try out the new format.<\/p>\n The journalist cites long delivery times as evidence that demand remains strong: during spot checks, new orders for the iPhone Duo had an expected dispatch date of late January 2027.<\/p>\nIs it really true that one in three customers returned their iPhone Duo?<\/h2>\n