The Release for the Samsung Galaxy Fold Delayed

Posted on Friday, May 17 2019 @ 11:19 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Samsung's Folding Phone's a Disaster
In just one week, Samsung’s wildly ambitious folding phone became a disaster for the giant of smartphones.

The Galaxy Fold, meant to be the first-ever phone with a foldable touchscreen got teased, unveiled, and then distributed to a select number of tech reviewers in a very carefully orchestrated rollout over the past few months. And everything went to hell shortly after!

Monday 22 April saw the company acknowledging what had occurred and announcing a delay for the gadget’s release as they try to fix the problems.

The Order of Events
The tease began in November 2018, after which no news about the new concept was released.

The Galaxy Fold debuted during the February Unpacked event, and was a success, with the demonstration proving that the phone functioned properly, even though the outer screen was absurdly small. No one was allowed to actually use it, although attendees could access the other smartphones announced that day.

The device was priced at US$1 980, and the launch date announced to be April 26 2090, both of which came as a surprise. For one thing, the release date seemed absurdly close to the February announcement, and the price was possibly in a region only lucky online Bingo NZ could afford after a big win!

Just ahead of the launch date, Samsung provided several handsets for media to use and review, and first impressions were, for the most part, positive. But just a few short days later these units began failing for a number of reasons, Samsung delayed the official release, and now we’re waiting to find out when we can expect to see it.

What Were the Issues?
Some smartphones broke from everyday use, and others stopped functioning because the reviewer removed a screen protector, a thin sheet of plastic, which apparently needs to remain on the device. This is far from normal, as it’s generally considered an accessory, not something that is crucial to operations.

A Full Statement from Samsung
The company let it be known that they had recently unveiled a brand-new mobile category in a smartphone that, using a variety of new technologies and materials, created a flexible, foldable display. They said that although reviewers had noted the vast potential of the devices, they also uncovered issues, and it came to light that improvements are necessary to ensure consumers get the best possible user experience.

They said that the release date is being delayed in order for them to evaluate the feedback they’ve received and run further tests internally, after which a new date would be announced. The company confirmed that issues on the display included those associated with impact on the bottom and top exposed hinge areas and that substances inside the smartphone had also affected how the display performed.

They said that measures were going to be implemented to strengthen the protection of the display, and they were going to make guidance on the care and use of it and its protective layer more explicit. They made a point of mentioning the trust their customers place in them, and stated that it remained their top priority, and thanked us all for our patience and understanding!