Samsung Electronics will begin selling the Galaxy Fold in September. The smartphone’s defining feature is its foldable screen, and it was intended to debut on April 26, but the rollout was delayed when tech reviewers discovered significant flaws in its structure.
According to the Wall Street Journal, faults in the early test models included flickering screens, problems with the device’s hinges and with the top layer of its display, which some reviewers unwittingly peeled off, believing it to be a removable protective cover.
Since the delay, Samsung has strengthened the device’s hinges and extended the top protective layer of its Infinity Flex Display beyond the bezel, to make it clear to users that it is not meant to be removed. Samsung also covered the gap between the device’s screen and hinge, to protect it from particles of dust and dirt.
Additionally, further metal layers have been installed under the Infinity Flex Display to provide extra protection. The gap between the hinge and body of Galaxy Fold has also been made smaller.
Samsung will conduct final tests on the device until its rollout in select markets, which the company said it would disclose as the product launch date approaches.
The Galaxy Fold is intended to fundamentally change the way consumers interact with their smartphones. When in the open position, its design allows users access to a screen the size of a tablet and the simultaneous use of multiple apps. When in the closed position, users will have access to their essential apps on the outside of the device.
If the launch of the Galaxy Fold is successful, Samsung may be able to turn the page on the bad press that it received in the wake of the 2016 global recall of its Galaxy Note 7 device. In certain cases, its batteries were defective, causing some devices to catch fire.
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The tech site Gizmodo summarized the task at hand for the South Korean company. “Samsung’s major challenge now is convincing people the Fold is still worth $2,000 after its launch was delayed over durability issues,” the site said. “But for anyone who’s a fan of boundary-pushing tech, it’s nice that Samsung hasn’t given up on gadgets with foldable screens just yet.”