Samsung Galaxy Fold
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 1969 in Suwon, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, including the Galaxy Fold series |
| Website | www |
Samsung Galaxy Fold
The Samsung Galaxy Fold represents a foldable smartphone running on the Android platform, engineered by Samsung Electronics. It was first introduced to the public on February 20, 2019, with a worldwide launch commencing on September 6, 2019. This device features a unique folding mechanism resembling a book, revealing a flexible display measuring 7.3 inches diagonally when unfolded, providing a tablet-sized viewing experience. Additionally, it includes a smaller external "cover" screen designed for use without unfolding the device. Following the debut of the Galaxy Z Flip, which adopts a clamshell fold style, Samsung consolidated its foldable lineup under the Galaxy Z series brand, a change that also retroactively includes the Galaxy Fold.
Prior to its release, the Galaxy Fold garnered divided opinions; it was lauded for its groundbreaking design but faced criticism concerning its durability and long-term reliability. Many viewed it as a proof of concept aimed at early adopters rather than mainstream consumers. Due to concerns over build robustness and vulnerability to damage, Samsung decided to recall review units and postpone the product’s launch indefinitely to resolve these issues. After implementing design improvements detailed in July, Samsung officially released the phone in September 2019. The company initially reported selling one million units by December of that year; however, this figure was later clarified as sales expectations rather than confirmed sales. The following year, Samsung introduced the next-generation model known as the Galaxy Z Fold 2.
History
In November 2018, Samsung revealed a prototype of the Galaxy Fold—its final design concealed—at a developers' conference, showcasing the innovative "Infinity Flex Display" and the necessary modifications made to Samsung's Android version along with the newly introduced One UI interface. Google announced its collaboration with original equipment manufacturers to enhance Android’s compatibility with foldable devices, a capability that was integrated natively starting with Android 10.
Delay
Following reports that Samsung had postponed a launch event in China and that some review units experienced failures in their inner displays, the company declared on April 22 that the Galaxy Fold’s release, initially planned for April 26, would be postponed indefinitely. This delay aimed to address and resolve the display issues, with Samsung indicating that a revised launch date would be communicated in the upcoming weeks and that defective review units were being recalled. Subsequently, Samsung stated that pre-orders would be automatically cancelled if the device had not shipped by May 31 without customer confirmation. On May 24, 2019, U.S. retailer Best Buy cancelled all Galaxy Fold pre-orders. Following suit, AT&T also terminated pre-orders on June 13, 2019, offering refunds alongside a US$100 credit as compensation.
The postponement drew parallels to the battery-related recall of the Galaxy Note 7, as noted by CNET. In their durability test, CNET found that the Galaxy Fold’s hinge endured only 120,000 folds—equivalent to three years of typical use—falling short of the advertised 200,000 folds or five years of usage.
On July 24, 2019, Samsung announced plans for a September launch and outlined several design enhancements aimed at reinforcing the display and securing the hinge mechanism. Protective caps were introduced at both ends of the hinge area, while the protective layer was extended beneath the bezel to prevent unintended removal. Additional metal layers were added beneath the screen for increased durability. The gap between the hinge and device body was also minimized to improve overall robustness.
Alongside the updated release, Samsung provided more comprehensive care guidelines. These instructions advised users against placing objects or adhesives on the screen, pressing it with hard materials, exposing it to liquids or debris, removing the protective film, and cautioned about keeping the device away from magnet-sensitive items. The Verge likened these warnings to those found in "pharmaceutical ads" that list numerous potential side effects. In the United States, selected retailers and Samsung stores introduced a "Premier Service" package for Galaxy Fold owners. This service included an orientation session after purchase, a dedicated support hotline for Fold-related concerns, and an option to purchase one out-of-warranty screen replacement at US$149. The device retained its standard one-year warranty despite these additional services.
Samsung also launched a variant exclusive to China Telecom, named the Galaxy W20 5G. This model featured an upgraded Snapdragon 855+ processor and sported a distinctive white finish. The W20 became available on December 12, 2019, offered in two color options: Space Silver and Cosmos Black.
Specifications
The Galaxy Fold features a dual-display design; its front exterior hosts a compact 4.6-inch screen positioned centrally for ease of use with one hand, while unfolding the device reveals a larger 7.3-inch display. Samsung has rated the hinge mechanism to endure up to 200,000 folds. The main tablet display includes a prominent notch in its upper-right corner and is protected by a specially engineered multi-layer laminate instead of traditional glass.[1] The device’s power button integrates a fingerprint sensor.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, the Galaxy Fold comes equipped with 12 GB of RAM and offers 512 GB of internal storage without expansion options. Unlike other Samsung models, this Qualcomm processor is utilized globally across all markets rather than being limited to specific regions.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Additionally, there is a 5G variant available that features a slightly reduced battery capacity.[2][3][4]
The device contains two separate batteries distributed between its two sections, combining for a total capacity of 4380 mAh (4235 mAh for the 5G model). It incorporates six cameras, employing the same sensor technology found in the Galaxy S10+.[1] This includes a triple rear camera setup comprising a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide lens. For selfies, there is a 10-megapixel front-facing camera on the cover and an additional internal 10-megapixel front camera paired with an RGB depth sensor on the main screen.[3][4][5]
Running on Android 9.0 "Pie" combined with Samsung's One UI, the Galaxy Fold supports an advanced Multi Window mode that can display up to three applications simultaneously. Applications launched on the smaller outer display can seamlessly transition to their expanded tablet-style layouts upon unfolding the device.[2][3][4]
Software lifecycle
On 18 August 2020, it was announced that the Galaxy Fold, along with several other Galaxy flagship models released from 2019 onward, would be supported with three major Android operating system updates.
Reception
Digital Trends commended the Fold for its software, overall performance, camera capabilities, and main display, while expressing concerns about its cost, the design of the front screen, and the absence of water resistance. Chokkattu noted that "[it's] very enjoyable to use due to its novelty," but also observed that "this technology remains inaccessible for most consumers." CNET described the device’s interior as feeling somewhat "toy-like" compared to its premium exterior, highlighting vulnerabilities such as a fragile screen, a plastic frame, an excessively large and unnecessary notch, a visible crease on the display from certain angles, and gaps around the hinge that could allow dust and debris to enter. The review also pointed out the lack of water resistance and found the cover screen size inconvenient for typing. Ultimately, CNET characterized the Galaxy Fold as "a prototype device aimed at developers and early adopters, while others can only speculate."
Dieter Bohn from The Verge found the foldable tablet screen delightful to use but criticized the bulky design and small cover screen for making it less practical for quick, frequent smartphone tasks. He also mentioned drawbacks such as a less smooth display compared to glass screens, susceptibility to scratches and imperfections over time, the noticeable crease, a large notch, a "jelly" effect during scrolling between screen halves, and multiple potential points of failure. Bohn praised its premium hardware components—particularly the batteries—and described multitasking as versatile yet somewhat clumsy and prone to bugs during mode transitions in certain applications. In summary, he regarded the Galaxy Fold as "truly an impressive gadget to experience," but viewed it more as a status symbol than a mainstream consumer device.
Issues
Several review devices exhibited a significant frequency of screen malfunctions; an iFixit disassembly highlighted that the fold crease had visible openings at both its upper and lower ends, allowing debris to infiltrate beneath the display. This flaw led to "bulging" effects reported by various reviewers, including Blick and The Verge, the latter experiencing screen damage attributed to this vulnerability. At Samsung's request, the teardown was temporarily removed from public access but was restored following the Galaxy Fold's subsequent re-release.
Multiple reviewers unintentionally caused screen damage by peeling off one of the transparent laminate layers protecting it. Samsung cautioned that the "special protective layer" applied on the display should not be removed, as its removal risks damaging the screen itself. There were concerns that consumers might confuse this layer with a standard pre-applied screen protector if adequate warnings were not provided; however, retail versions of the Galaxy Fold included a clear disclaimer regarding this. Following these incidents, Samsung announced it would conduct a comprehensive examination of the faulty review units to determine the root causes. Ultimately, Samsung postponed the phone’s launch and implemented numerous modifications to the display design to address and reduce these problems.
See also
References
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- Mobile phones released in 2019
- Android (operating system) devices
- Foldable smartphones
- Mobile phones featuring multiple rear cameras
- Mobile devices capable of 4K video capture
- Discontinued flagship smartphones
- Discontinued Samsung Galaxy smartphones