Samsung to give Galaxy Fold owners a one-time break on a screen replacement
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is being relaunched in the U.S. on September 27th. That is roughly five months after the foldable handset’s original April 26th launch date. You probably know the whole story by now. Several influencers failed to heed warnings that Samsung included with their review units not to peel off the plastic film on the large internal display. The manufacturer noted that doing so could damage the device. So why did the influencers do this? Most new smartphones have a protective film on the display that is designed to be peeled off before the device is booted up for the first time (it makes that satisfying new phone sound that many love). But the Galaxy Fold was different. In addition, debris entered the Galaxy Fold through openings on the top and bottom of the hinge. Some of this debris produced bulges on the internal screen. Other review units just stopped working.
So Samsung put the kibosh on the April 26th launch, U.S. carriers refunded and canceled pre-orders, and the company went back to the drawing board. Samsung Electronics CEO DJ Koh admitted that the company tried to push out the Galaxy Fold before it was ready. Samsung tucked in the protective film under the bezels so that users couldn’t remove it, and the top and bottom of the hinges were capped to prevent dirt and debris from entering the device through the opening. Additionally, metal layers were added to reinforce the Infinity Flex display.
Samsung will charge Galaxy Fold users $149 to replace the internal screen-but just once
Even with all of these improvements, the Galaxy Fold is a fragile device. Samsung itself made that clear with a video it released last week pointing out that those with the foldable device need to use a light touch on the internal display. It also mentioned that because of the magnets used to keep the screens folded when closed, those using the device need to be “mindful of objects that might be affected.” But let’s say that you are as careful as you can be but still damage the display. According to The Verge, Samsung will allow Galaxy Fold owners to replace the screen for just $149 on out of warranty repairs. However, that price will be available just one time, and only during the first year of ownership for those who purchase the foldable on or before December 31st, 2019. Samsung hasn’t said how much it will cost to repair the screen a second time.
Samsung is giving helpful hints to those who shell out $1,980 U.S. Dollars to own the first foldable Android made by a major manufacturer. The manufacturer says:
- Do not use hard or sharp objects on the screen such as a pen and fingernail.
- Don’t place coins, keys or cards on the phone’s internal display.
- Since the Galaxy Fold is not dust or water-resistant, keep it away from smart particles and liquids.
- Don’t remove the protective film on top of the internal display and do not attach stickers or protective films to the screen.
- Keep your Galaxy Fold away from credit cards and implanted medical devices because of the magnets used on the phone. In fact, if you have an implantable medical device, Samsung suggests that you check with your doctor before using the device.
“To give you peace of mind with this exciting new screen technology, we are offering a one-time out of warranty screen replacement within one year of purchase for the special price of $149 (+taxes) if you purchased your Galaxy Fold before December 31, 2019”-Samsung
The bottom line is that if you don’t treat your Galaxy Fold with kid gloves, Samsung will give you just one opportunity to replace the screen for what they consider to be a bargain price. But should you need to replace the screen a second time, you’ll be digging deeper into your pockets to have the screen replaced.