Apple reportedly relaxed its quality inspection standards for the iPhone Duo to increase production ahead of the holiday season, despite growing complaints about damage to the foldable phone’s inner display and hinge mechanism.
According to a report from Chinese publication Jiemian News, citing an unnamed Foxconn employee, Apple lowered its quality checks to get more units into stores before the end of the year.
However, the employee also claimed that the production line has since replaced a batch of components without making further changes to its quality control standards. The report comes as Apple is reportedly targeting 7.5 million iPhone Duo shipments by the end of 2026.
The claims follow several reports from early iPhone Duo owners who have experienced cracking and other damage to the device’s inner display. Apple has already acknowledged the problem, although the company maintains that it affects only “a small number of iPhone Duo units”.
Customers experiencing the issue have been advised to contact Apple for a replacement, but the latest report raises further questions about whether production pressures may have contributed to the problems.
Adding to those concerns, YouTube creator CuriousHagi recently examined the Duo’s internal hinge mechanism and identified a possible explanation for the display damage. The investigation suggests that a thin, link-type component within the hinge may be making contact with an upper support plate, potentially causing the cracking sound reported by some affected users.
The component sits behind the middle section of the foldable display and appears noticeably thinner than other parts of the hinge assembly. While the findings offer a possible explanation for the failures, they don’t establish whether the suspected defect is connected to Apple’s reported changes in quality inspection standards.
For Apple, the timing is particularly awkward as it works to meet demand for its first foldable iPhone during the busy holiday shopping period. The company has yet to publicly address the allegations about reduced quality checks, and the claims remain unverified.
With reports of display damage continuing to surface, questions remain over whether the manufacturing changes will be enough to prevent further problems.
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