An employee at Foxconn, Apple's manufacturing partner, has reportedly claimed that the US technology giant lowered its quality control standards to ensure enough iPhone Duo units were ready for launch, despite poor production yields and unresolved technical problems.

For Apple fans, the arrival of the iPhone Duo was supposed to mark a major milestone in the company's history. Instead, excitement reportedly turned to frustration as some users encountered serious problems within hours of receiving their devices.

More concerning than ordinary software glitches are reports suggesting a potentially serious flaw in the foldable display's design.

iPhone Duo hit by 'Crackgate' on launch day

The controversy, dubbed "Crackgate" by some online users, centers on reports of iPhone Duo displays developing cracks under seemingly normal operating conditions.

According to accounts circulating online, a component beneath the inner folding display, near the hinge mechanism, may shift out of position during everyday use.

When users open or close the phone, the displaced component could press against the underside of the display, creating enough pressure to crack the panel.

The resulting damage reportedly appears as a vertical crack running down the center of the screen, from top to bottom.

Lines may then appear as pixels become stuck or stop functioning. In more severe cases, the entire display can become unresponsive or turn completely black.

What makes these reports particularly troubling is the suggestion that damage can occur during ordinary folding and unfolding, rather than following a drop, impact or other unusual physical stress.

If confirmed, such a defect would be especially concerning for a device positioned at the premium end of the smartphone market.

For foldable phones, the durability of the flexible display and hinge mechanism is fundamental to the long-term user experience. A failure in either component can undermine the practical benefits of the entire design.

Foxconn employee alleges Apple loosened quality control standards

According to a newly translated report citing an overseas source, an anonymous Foxconn employee claimed that Apple relaxed quality control requirements to ensure sufficient iPhone Duo inventory for its scheduled launch.

The source alleged that production yields remained disappointingly low as October approached.

Apple had already decided to introduce the iPhone Duo after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, reportedly adding pressure to complete manufacturing preparations and meet the release schedule.

Faced with these constraints, the company allegedly chose to ease some inspection requirements to increase the number of devices available for sale on time.

However, the allegations come from an unnamed source and have not been officially confirmed by Apple.

There is also no independently established direct link between the alleged changes to quality control procedures and the reported screen failures.

Nevertheless, the claims raise questions about how Apple manages the development and manufacturing of new product categories.

Launching a device while production yields remain low and durability issues are potentially unresolved could expose a manufacturer to more than warranty and repair costs.

It could also damage consumer confidence, particularly among customers paying a premium for a product they expect to meet Apple's established standards for reliability and quality.

Software bugs and usability problems add to concerns

Screen cracking is reportedly not the iPhone Duo's only problem.

The device has also attracted complaints about software behavior and everyday usability, suggesting that the overall experience may not yet meet expectations for a premium foldable smartphone.

Some applications reportedly fail to display or function properly when used on the folding screen.

Other users have described creaking noises when opening or closing the device, raising further questions about the hinge assembly and overall structural integrity.

Even applications developed by Apple and supposedly optimized for the iPhone Duo have reportedly exhibited unexpected behavior.

Certain interface elements occasionally stop responding without an obvious cause, while the layout of the sidebar on the outer display has drawn criticism for being awkward or unintuitive.

Taken together, these complaints suggest that Apple may have faced challenges in refining both the hardware and software before bringing the product to market.

A foldable smartphone requires a substantially different approach to interface design compared with a conventional iPhone.

Users expect more than a larger screen when the device is unfolded. Applications need to transition smoothly between folded and unfolded modes, layouts must remain consistent and basic interactions should work reliably regardless of the display configuration.

According to PhoneArena, competitive pressure may have played a significant role in Apple's decision to release the iPhone Duo.

The company reportedly wanted to avoid remaining on the sidelines of the foldable smartphone market, where major rivals have spent years developing and refining their products.

Apple entered the segment with its own device roughly eight years after the first commercially available foldable smartphones appeared.

Further delays could have created additional challenges for the company's brand image, especially as competitors had already benefited from multiple generations of hardware and software improvements.

Apple reportedly had to scale back some of its original ambitions for a foldable iPhone with an almost invisible screen crease.

The under-display camera on the inner screen has also reportedly faced criticism over its hardware quality.

Meanwhile, devices such as Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, Huawei's Pura X Max and Xiaomi's 18 Fold have been cited as competitors Apple hopes to challenge with a foldable smartphone running iOS.

The iPhone Duo's arrival this year is also seen as significant for the early tenure of Apple's new CEO, John Ternus.

Against this backdrop, Apple may have prioritized getting the device onto the market over achieving its original design and performance goals.

That could have meant accepting compromises in hardware design, software optimization and quality control to avoid missing what the company viewed as an important opportunity to enter the foldable smartphone segment.

For now, however, the allegations about Apple's manufacturing decisions remain unverified, and the precise cause and extent of the reported display failures have yet to be conclusively established.

Hai Phong