Samsung Galaxy Fold

The Samsung Galaxy Fold was announced February 20, 2019 for $1,980 as the first mass-market foldable smartphone, featuring a 4.6” external display that opened to a 7.3” tablet-sized inner screen. The device promised the future of mobile computing—until review units spectacularly failed days before launch, forcing Samsung to delay release for five months.

Launch Disaster

Review units sent to media (April 2019) broke within days: displays separated from the frame, screens cracked at the hinge, and protective layer peeling destroyed panels. MKBHD, The Verge, and Diogo Queiroz documented catastrophic failures. Samsung postponed the April 26 launch indefinitely, recalling all review units.

Redesign & September Launch

Samsung spent five months reinforcing the hinge, extending the display protection layer beyond edges, adding caps to prevent debris entry, and reducing the gap when folded. The redesigned Fold finally launched September 6, 2019 in South Korea, then September 27 in the U.S., still at $1,980.

Durability Concerns

The Fold’s plastic inner display scratched easily (Mohs 2-3 hardness versus Gorilla Glass 6-7), showed visible crease down the middle, and felt fragile. YouTube durability tests by JerryRigEverything showed dust ingress destroying the display. Samsung warned against screen protectors, limiting protection options.

Foldable Category Creation

Despite flaws, the Fold proved foldable phones could work. Galaxy Z Fold 2 (2020), Fold 3 (2021), and Fold 4 (2022) iteratively improved durability, refined hinges, and added water resistance. The Z Flip clamshell (2020, $1,380) offered a more practical foldable form factor, becoming Samsung’s best-selling foldable.

The Galaxy Fold’s disastrous launch paradoxically validated the foldable category: media coverage exceeded traditional phone launches, and consumers forgave the botched release for the innovation promise.

Sources:

• Samsung Galaxy Fold announcement, February 20, 2019
• Galaxy Fold review unit failures, April 2019
• Samsung Galaxy Fold redesign launch, September 6, 2019