The Defect Rate In iPhone Duo Production Reaches 40%
Credit: Apple
Production is currently proceeding in small batches. According to sources, maintaining Apple’s current quality standards means it could take six months to a year to achieve a stable yield rate suitable for mass production. Suppliers are awaiting a decision from the company on whether it is willing to relax certain acceptance criteria to accelerate the ramp-up of production volumes.
The issue stems not from a single defect, but from the need to fine-tune virtually the entire production system. As the iPhone Duo will be Apple’s first mass-market foldable device, Foxconn must simultaneously configure the equipment, manufacturing processes, and assembly parameters for this new type of smartphone.
Complications also arose during earlier stages of production. Samsung Display, the supplier of the foldable OLED panels, previously faced low screen yields and delays. The hinge design also underwent revisions; sources indicate that Apple even considered using liquid metal for some of its components but ultimately abandoned the idea before mass production began.
During the development of the iPhone Duo’s hinge and folding mechanism, the company attempted to use Liquid Metal alloy for certain components, but some approaches had to be reconsidered for mass production. The mechanism comprises over 100 parts and incorporates a 3D-printed cover. According to MyDrivers, the iPhone Duo’s contract manufacturer asked Apple to prioritize either improving product quality or increasing production volume.
Apple has encountered difficulties in the mass production of its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. The defect rate during assembly at Foxconn factories currently stands just below the 40% mark. Bringing this figure down to a mature level could take another six months to a year.
