Samsung delays Galaxy Fold release
Samsung confirms it'll postpone the foldable phone's April 26 debut.
- Coauthor of Uninvested (Random House, 2015)
Samsung says it'll announce a new release date "in the coming weeks."
Samsung is postponing the release date of its Galaxy Fold phone.
"While many reviewers shared with us the vast potential they see, some also showed us how the device needs further improvements that could ensure the best possible user experience," Samsung said in a statement. "To fully evaluate this feedback and run further internal tests, we have decided to delay the release of the Galaxy Fold. We plan to announce the release date in the coming weeks."
The delay was reported earlier Monday by The Wall Street Journal.
After a slate of tech reviewers slammed the Galaxy Fold for problems with the phone's foldable screen, Samsung on Sunday was reported to have postponed launch events in Hong Kong and Shanghai. They were originally scheduled for April 23 and 24, respectively.
Last week, the company distributed a small number of devices to reviewers, including CNET. Though CNET's Galaxy Fold review unit has remained intact, several other media outlets reported problems with the phone's 7.3-inch interior screen.
"Initial findings from the inspection of reported issues on the display showed that they could be associated with impact on the top and bottom exposed areas of the hinge. There was also an instance where substances found inside the device affected the display performance," Samsung said on Monday. "We will take measures to strengthen the display protection. We will also enhance the guidance on care and use of the display including the protective layer so that our customers get the most out of their Galaxy Fold."
Samsung, which was among the first companies to show off foldable technology, is being closely tracked by competitors with their own flexible designs, including Huawei, Motorola and Xiaomi.
The Galaxy Fold starts at $1,980. Concerns over the durability of such an expensive device could jeopardize the prospects for Samsung's inaugural foldable device -- and the category as a whole.
Read more: What Galaxy Fold's problems mean for the future of foldable phones
Originally published April 22, 7:26 a.m. PT.
Update, 10:36 a.m. PT: Adds confirmation from Samsung.