A video of Twitch streamer Caren Babaknia aggressively testing the hinge on his brand-new iPhone Duo went viral after the $1,999 foldable phone snapped and the screen cracked during the attempt.
The roughly 50-second clip, shared by the X account @CreatorPulsee on Oct. 29, 2026, has drawn more than 1.4 million views and over 10,000 likes. In the footage, Babaknia, 29, holds the device with both hands and repeatedly bends and flexes the fold while friends watch and react in a home setting that appears to be in California.
“Look, look, it doesn’t crack,” Babaknia says early in the video before the phone fails. Moments later the group reacts with surprise and laughter as the screen goes dark. “You just broke it,” one person says. “No way, I just bought it. It doesn’t turn on anymore.” Babaknia notes the phone cost about $2,000 and says he has AppleCare, though the group questions whether the coverage will apply.
Babaknia is a California-based streamer who primarily broadcasts on Twitch under the handle carenbabaknia and also streams on Kick. He is known for interactive challenges and pranks with viewers. He graduated from Chapman University in 2023 and maintains an Instagram presence under the handle carenview. He retweeted the viral clip the following day.
Apple introduced the iPhone Duo on Sept. 9, 2026, as its first foldable iPhone. The book-style device folds to roughly passport size with a 5.4-inch outer display and opens to a 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR screen, Apple’s largest iPhone display to date. It uses the same A20 Pro chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro models, features a grade-5 titanium frame, dual batteries and an IP68 rating. Pricing starts at $1,999 for 256 GB of storage. Pre-orders opened Oct. 16, and the phone went on sale Oct. 23 in more than 70 countries and regions.
The video arrived as early owners reported a small number of units developing cracks along the inner display crease, sometimes after only a few folds and often accompanied by a crunching sound or resistance in the hinge. Apple has said it is aware of an issue affecting the inner display on a limited number of devices and is providing replacements through AppleCare and support channels. Most units appear unaffected.
Independent durability tests have produced mixed results. Some repeated-folding experiments reached tens of thousands of cycles before problems appeared. Other stress tests, including reverse bending and exposure to debris, caused screen failure more readily. Repair estimates for the inner display without AppleCare have been reported around $1,499.
Replies to the viral post mixed amusement at Babaknia testing a brand-new expensive phone so aggressively with questions about the hinge design and overall build quality of Apple’s first foldable. Reviews of functioning units have generally praised the software experience, thin open profile and multitasking capabilities while noting the premium price and the typical early-generation caveats of a new form factor.
