The Samsung Galaxy Fold was supposed to hit U.S. stores this Friday, but that release date has been pushed back until at least next month following screen problems on some review devices, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Last week multiple tech journalists reported problems with review units of the foldable Samsung smartphone after just a couple of days of use, including flickering “unusable” screens and a small bulge in the center of the 7.3-inch flexible display that caused it to crack.
Granted, in some of these instances reviewers had accidently removed a protective film-like top layer that Samsung said was supposed to stay in place. However, even with the protective layer in place, multiple phones ran into issues, although some reporters had no problems with the handsets.
Samsung previously said it will “thoroughly inspect” the devices to determine the issue. According to the WSJ, citing sources familiar with the matter, Samsung’s own investigation continues, but the issues appear to arise from the device’s hinge and extra pressure exerted on the internal screen.
Samsung also canceled media events planned for Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The launch of the nearly $2,000 foldable smartphone has been highly anticipated, but GlobalData director Emma Mohr-McClune said comments after the initial screen issue reports that devices may not be ready for the public yet.
“So far, we’ve seen around half a dozen different ways to make smartphones fold, and in my opinion, not one of these pioneer models look rugged enough for public presentation or sale at this time,” Mohr-McClune commented.
“The problem is, that in innovating on the basic ‘chocolate-bar’ format of the standard smartphone, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have introduced new design vulnerabilities, and that has some significant implications for device lifecycle cost and management,” Mohr-McClune continued. “Given the anticipated high retail cost of this new design innovation, the device insurance market should certainly be worried about these initial reports.”
The updated release of the Galaxy Fold is expected in the coming weeks, though a definite date has not been decided yet, according to WSJ.
In 2016 Samsung had a different smartphone fiasco on its hands when the device maker had to recall its Galaxy Note 7 after batteries caught on fire.
