Foxconn employee claims Apple rushed iPhone Duo launch despite 7-year wait for foldable
Apple waited on the sidelines for nearly seven years, watching rivals like Samsung and Huawei launch and refine their foldables, before jumping onto the bandwagon with the iPhone Duo. However, reports of the iPhone Duo’s inner display cracking after just hours of use made for an awkward start, and Apple acknowledging the issue gave credence to them. Now, an anonymous Foxconn employee claims Apple was so determined to get the phone out this year that it lowered its quality control standards to meet the launch deadline. Even though Apple has acknowledged the cracking issue, the claim that it compromised quality checks comes from the employee and hasn’t been independently verified.
iPhone Duo cracking issue
The display problem, dubbed ‘Crackgate’ online, reportedly involves a component beneath the inner folding screen near the hinge. According to reports, the component is dislodging during normal use and pressing against the display, causing it to crack when the phone is folded or unfolded. Affected units reportedly develop a crack running down the centre of the display, with lines of dead or stuck pixels. In some cases, the screen becomes unresponsive or goes completely blank. The precise cause and extent of the failures remain unclear.
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The employee who made the allegations works for Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer that assembles iPhones for Apple and makes devices for several other major technology companies. The report from China claims manufacturing yields remained low as October approached. Apple had already committed to releasing the iPhone Duo after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, leaving little room to delay the launch. The employee alleges that Apple relaxed its quality control standards to secure more units for launch. There’s no independent confirmation that this happened or that it caused the reported display failures.
The same report mentions apps failing to behave as expected, including Apple’s own apps optimised for the foldable. Users have also reportedly encountered creaking noises when folding the phone, unresponsive interface elements and problems with the external display’s sidebar. The under-display camera has drawn criticism as well.
Apple’s first foldable was always going to face scrutiny, but the combination of reported hardware failures and software glitches raises questions about whether it was even ready for release or not.
Even though Apple is offering replacements, anyone considering the iPhone Duo should wait for more clarity on the cracking issue, Apple’s repair and warranty guidance, and whether any manufacturing changes have been made. With a first-generation device, it’s worth weighing the appeal of Apple’s entry into the category against the potential cost and inconvenience of early hardware problems.
