Galaxy Fold will launch in limited supply, with 'intensive aftercare'
You may only be able to see Samsung's new $2,000 foldable phone in select stores.
If you were planning to check out the Galaxy Fold at your local phone store when it launches in April, you may not be able to. According to a Samsung exec at MWC, the "super premium" foldable phone will likely be in short supply when it goes on sale on April 26, and the company sounds like it will be closely managing buyers' initial experiences.
"We'll have less supply than we would of the S10 at launch, and also how it goes to market is really important to us," Kate Beaumont, director of product, services and commercial strategy at Samsung UK, told The Verge.
"This is a super premium device, and we want to make sure it has a concierge-like service and experience, so it's not going to be on display in all stores. You're not going to see it on the stands, we want to make sure it's a very personal experience. There will be quite intensive aftercare that goes with it as well," she said.
It also looks like the company will be holding another Unpacked launch event for the phone in April, a few weeks before it goes on sale. When the Galaxy Fold debuted at Samsung's MWC Unpacked along with the new Galaxy S10 line, only a handful of press were allowed to touch it, and that was for less than 2 minutes. Samsung's initial limited rollout highlights the way foldable phones are currently "a cruel tease," as CNET editor Roger Cheng put it. The Fold will cost $1,980 (about £1,500 or AU$2,750).
Samsung didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.
