After a group of reviewers reported their Galaxy Fold phones broke mere days after they received them, Samsung said it will postpone launching the phone in the U.S.
The Galaxy Fold was scheduled to become available for purchase in the U.S. April 26. But the company admitted to CNBC that the phone “needs further improvements” before a commercial launch. Samsung said it will further test the phone and announce a new release date in the coming weeks.
Just a few days after Samsung distributed test phones to media publications in the U.S, reports of the phone screen breaking began to stream in online. Some users mistakenly removed a protective film that covers the display, while others reported flickering screen issues and rogue debris just underneath the screen that caused the screen the break.
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In a statement to CNBC, Samsung said it had inspected the defective phones and had found what it believes to be the culprits behind the display issues.
“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,” the company said. “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.”
The company also noted that customers who have preordered the phone won’t be charged until the phone ships, and that they can cancel their order anytime.
News of the postponed U.S. launch follows an announcement earlier this week that Samsung had decided to cancel the phone’s April 24 launch in China.