Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy' - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'

John Ternus iPhone DuoIn a recent interview with TIME, Apple CEO John Ternus described some early foldable smartphones as feeling "kind of cheap and crappy." Samsung released its first foldable in 2019, but Apple opted to take its time and has now developed the iPhone Duo with a premium design and a barely-noticeable display crease.

The interview touches on how Ternus gave Apple's design team "the confidence to really push the boundaries on innovation and manufacturing" with the iPhone Duo, which is available to pre-order starting this Friday at 5 a.m. Pacific Time.

Popular Stories

iphone duo feature

Tim Cook Explains Why He Stepped Down as Apple CEO Before iPhone Duo Launch

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:05 am PDT by
The Independent's David Phelan on Wednesday interviewed Apple's executive chairman Tim Cook at Apple's U.K. headquarters in the Battersea Power Station, and one of the topics they discussed was John Ternus taking over as Apple's CEO. Ternus, who was previously Apple's hardware engineering chief, succeeded Cook as Apple's CEO on September 1. Cook said the transition "started years ago."...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple Planning to Launch Products Faster and More Often

Tuesday September 29, 2026 8:55 am PDT by
Apple CEO John Ternus is undertaking efforts to restructure the company to accelerate product development and introduce new products more frequently, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Ternus apparently wants Apple to "broaden its range of devices and create a leaner organization with a greater focus on engineering." One proposal under consideration is to rely less on Apple's traditional ...
John Ternus and Rainbow Countour Apple Logo

Apple CEO John Ternus Talks iPhone Duo Design, Siri AI, and Becoming CEO

Monday September 21, 2026 4:12 pm PDT by
Apple CEO John Ternus did an interview with Canal+ talk show Clique following Apple's September event. He discussed the iPhone Duo's design, difficulties Apple ran into when developing it, his plans for Apple, and more. On the design of the iPhone Duo, Ternus explained why Apple went with an iPad-like shape when the device is unfolded. I think it's something new and unique, right? But I...

Top Rated Comments

Pitogyro Avatar
1 hour ago at 08:19 am
He’s definitely addressed the “cheap” problem.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ghost31 Avatar
1 hour ago at 08:19 am
He’s not wrong. People like to credit Samsung with being one of the first foldables ever, but them entering the market with such bad phones almost felt like it was going to kill the foldable market. Like people were getting their units and they were so poorly made that they would just break by themselves, and that’s why there was a perception for a long time until recently that foldable phones were not something people really desired

Samsung phones have gotten better over the last year or so, but man, it was kind of a long road to get there
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 hour ago at 08:26 am
What an asshat. Everything has to start somewhere.
He may as well have said that mobile phones were ungainly and unusabale to start with. Guess what though - at least there was one. If I really wanted one back in 2019 and the Samsung one was all that was available, I'd have bought it.

A few years from now they may have new materials and capabilities and we might call the Duo Kind of not cheap and crappy.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacUserFella Avatar
1 hour ago at 08:18 am
“Cheap” and “Foldables” in the same sentence???
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 hour ago at 08:29 am
He's not wrong. He doesn't mean cheap in terms of price, but quality.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pitogyro Avatar
1 hour ago at 08:22 am

Loving how less squeaky clean and more blunt the executives have been recently. It's a good return to form to the Jobs' era.
Really? All I get from Ternus is platitudes and hot air so far. Straight A’s student of Tim Cook.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
38 minutes ago
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
1 hour ago
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
2 hours ago
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
3 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
3 hours ago
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
4 hours ago
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
4 hours ago
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
4 hours ago
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
5 hours ago
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
6 hours ago
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
16 hours ago
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
18 hours ago
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
18 hours ago
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
19 hours ago
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
20 hours ago
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
20 hours ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
20 hours ago
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
22 hours ago
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
22 hours ago
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
1 day ago
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
1 day ago
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
1 day ago
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
1 day ago
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake
1 day ago
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
Ready for HomeView? Don't Miss These Smart Home Accessory Deals
1 day ago
Apple Says HomePod 2 Also Works as Default Speaker With Select Macs
Apple Says HomePod 2 Also Works as Default Speaker With Select Macs
1 day ago
HomePod Mini 2: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2: All the New Features
1 day ago
WhatsApp Now Lets Anyone Join Calls, No Account Needed
WhatsApp Now Lets Anyone Join Calls, No Account Needed
1 day ago
AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today
AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today
1 day ago