Apple’s New CEO Just Demonstrated How to Stay Classy While Insulting the Competition
Apple CEO John Ternus described early foldable smartphones as "kind of cheap and crappy" in a TIME interview. The comments come as Apple prepares to open pre-orders for its own foldable device, the iPhone Duo. Ternus, who recently took leadership of the company, emphasizes a focus on engineering and design for this new product line. He reportedly spent 15 years planning the iPhone Duo to avoid the quality issues he associates with previous folding phones from competitors.
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- ✓ John Ternus is the new CEO of Apple.
- ✓ Apple is debuting a foldable phone called the iPhone Duo.
- ✓ John Ternus described early foldable phones as "kind of cheap and crappy".
- ✓ Ternus gave the interview to TIME.
What changed
John Ternus publicly criticized the quality of competing foldable phones during a TIME interview.
Live updates
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Apple CEO John Ternus Criticizes Early Foldables Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
Apple CEO John Ternus described early foldable smartphones as "kind of cheap and crappy" in a TIME interview. The comments come as Apple prepares to open pre-orders for its own foldable device, the iPhone Duo. Ternus, who recently took leadership of the company, emphasizes a focus on engineering and design for this new product line. He reportedly spent 15 years planning the iPhone Duo to avoid the quality issues he associates with previous folding phones from competitors.
Why it matters
The iPhone Duo represents Apple's first entry into the foldable phone market. This launch marks a shift in leadership and design philosophy under Ternus. The timing of these criticisms suggests a strategy to position Apple's hardware as a premium alternative to existing foldables.
What is confirmed
- John Ternus is the new CEO of Apple.
- Apple is debuting a foldable phone called the iPhone Duo.
- John Ternus described early foldable phones as "kind of cheap and crappy".
- Ternus gave the interview to TIME.
Still unconfirmed
- John Ternus spent 15 years planning the iPhone Duo.
- The iPhone Duo is one of the best inventions of 2026.
What to watch next
- The official pre-order date for the iPhone Duo
- Public reception of the iPhone Duo's build quality compared to competitors
confidence 95%Sources used for this update (11)
- tech.yahoo.com — 5 Classic SNES Games That Are Unplayable Today - Yahoo Tech
- macdailynews.com — Apple’s new CEO John Ternus puts engineering and design first as foldable iPhone Duo debuts
- inc.com — Apple’s New CEO Just Demonstrated How to Stay Classy While Insulting the Competition
- Time Magazine — John Ternus Is Engineering a New Era for Apple: The Best Inventions of 2026
- 9to5Mac — John Ternus talks iPhone Duo, ‘cheap and crappy’ foldables in new interview
- Thurrott.com — Ask Paul: October 16 ⭐
- AppleInsider — Ternus spent 15 years planning the iPhone Duo
- MacRumors — Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
- macdailynews.com — New Apple CEO John Ternus discusses the iPhone Duo, AI, and ...
- www.gotechtor.com — Apple’s New CEO Just Called Early Foldable ... - Gotechtor
- biztoc.com — Apple’s New CEO Just Demonstrated How to Stay Classy While ...
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