
While Samsung’s Galaxy Fold phones don’t’ officially go on sale until April 26, some early reviewers are having big problems with the device after only a few days of use.
While kinks were anticipated, being one of the first foldable phone models, perhaps no one anticipated it becoming completely unusable after only a few days.
The Verge’s Dieter Bohn reported that the screen of his Galaxy Fold completely broke after two days of normal use. A small bulge developed near the phone’s crease, eventually disabling the screen.
As Bloomberg’s Mark Gruman tweeted, the folding screen of his Galaxy Fold was “completely broken and unusable” after two days.
One of the potential reasons for the negative outcome was due to his removal of the screen’s protective layer. Samsung has noted that users are not supposed to remove it, but it looks so much like a screen protector that Gurman — and surely others — have done so without a second thought, inadvertently ruining the device.
As YouTuber Marques Brownlee also said of removing the film, “PSA: There’s a layer that appears to be a screen protector on the Galaxy Fold’s display. It’s NOT a screen protector. Do NOT remove it.”
His posted image shows the device was the bottom edge peeled away. He said, “I got this far peeling it off before the display spazzed and blacked out. Started over with a replacement.”
In response to the “screen-protector peeling problem,” Samsung has said that is phone is “manufactured with a special protective layer” to cover the plastic Infinity Flex display and that “it is not a screen protector — do not attempt to remove it.”
Samsung’s Galaxy Fold has two screens: a 4.6-inch and a 7.3-inch. The phone costs $1,980.