Galaxy Fold Launch Delayed as Samsung Commits to 'Strengthen the Display Protection' [Updated]

[trillionaire]

Smart move, but the damage is likely already done. The Fold added no value as is (not better than anything we have today, much worse actually), I don't know why anyone would buy it knowing that it will likely break. Apple is smart to wait this out until the tech matures and is ready for consumers (on some level, likely not phones). Samsung got desperate and it backfired, time to go back to the drawing board.

I don't think Samsung is desperate. As a company, they're doing just fine. They probably thought they could really stick it to Apple with this product, but like you said, that backfired. I for one would have been curious about it if it turned out to be a good product. I would consider it in future iterations if it gets perfected, but this is likely to become a disaster for this particular product with it being this close to the original release date and such a major issue.

 

[Rafterman]

I'm not even talking about iPads, I'm talking about the Fold. You're trying to engage in whataboutism to justify a screen defect (the crease) that all Folds exhibit.

The crease isn't a defect, it's a design choice, due to the technology available right now to make screens foldable. Under your logic, the Apple notch is a "defect" too, as it was needed to house the FaceID camera.

 

[Baymowe335]

It doesn't solve any issues. And with Android essentially dead on tablets, it doesn't become very useful when in tablet mode.

App developers have come up with many creative ways to deal with our tall, thin screens on smartphones. For example, many Apps let you swipe left or right to get access to another screen of features/options. Keep the primary content in the middle and allow quick access to additional functions when needed.

I would think opening up to a tablet just to get that extra functionality is actually worse than just using a smartphone with a larger screen. And let's face it - with the horribly tiny outer screen on the Fold, who would ever want to use it in its folded state? They might as well have done away with the outside screen completely and replaced it with a small watch-sized notification area instead. Since you were going to unfold it anyway to get anything done.

Great points. It's terrible and will flop if you can argue it hasn't flopped already.

 

[iReality85]

The crease isn't a defect, it's a design choice, due to the technology available right now to make screens foldable. Under your logic, the Apple notch is a "defect" too, as it was needed to house the FaceID camera.

a) I'm not a fan of the notch
b) Apple's design failures do not exempt Samsung's design failures, nor criticism of them
c) Then it's a bad design choice

 

[Piggie]

I hate the butterfly keyboard as much as the next guy (my “4” key just stopped working right today). But at least the flaws with that design are not so readily apparent that hundreds of forum posters were able to accurately predict the problems before it was released. Unlike the issues with the Fold.

I don't disagree, it's just to highlight we do, unfortunalty have a small? group of people here that spout utter tosh about Apple only ever releasing hardward that's 100% perfect every time.

I don't care what brand things are. No brand it perfect ever time, and we'd all like to think brands learn from mistakes.
I have to give Samsung SOME credit for at least doing this now. Is it early, indeed, could it be better, of course, but like the 1st car, the 1st plane, the 1st bridge, someone has to actually make the 1st one, which gives the basis for improvement. Just like how bad the 1st iPhone was that had many basic issues that were fixed in following models.

You can't wait forever till something it perfect before release.

 

[Rafterman]

Great points. It's terrible and will flop if you can argue it hasn't flopped already.

They sold out the first time, and it will sell out when they come back to launch. In fact, addressing these issues will make many even more eager to get one.

 

[DNichter]

I don't think Samsung is desperate. As a company, they're doing just fine. They probably thought they could really stick it to Apple with this product, but like you said, that backfired. I for one would have been curious about it if it turned out to be a good product. I would consider it in future iterations if it gets perfected, but this is likely to become a disaster for this particular product with it being this close to the original release date and such a major issue.

I am not sure, they saw a 60% drop in profits in Q1 compared to 2018 (https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/04/samsung-q1-2019-earnings-guidance/). As a company, I am sure they are fine, but rushing a product out the door when the tech isn't ready and there is no value proposition, it certainly feels desperate. They need to stop trying to compete with Apple on the high end and instead focus on the mid range market and Chinese tech companies. Slapping two phones together with a hinge isn't going to change much for them or the industry as a whole.

 

[iMEric984]

The sad thing is Samsung has been supposedly working on this for 7 years. Whoever runs the Q/A needs to be fired. Apple would never release a half baked version to be “first”.

 

[Rafterman]

a) I'm not a fan of the notch
b) Apple's design failures do not exempt Samsung's design failures, nor criticism of them
c) Then it's a bad design choice

No arguing those basic points, this is more to the fanboys who say things like "Apple waits to perfect tech before they release it".

 

[Jetfire]

The second worst product launch in the history of tech. Only beaten by the disaster that was the Note 7.

Still better then Apple AirPower mats.

 

[iReality85]

No arguing those basic points, this is more to the fanboys who say things like "Apple waits to perfect tech before they release it".

No worries, just wanted to state for the record.

 

[Rafterman]

Still better then Apple AirPower mats.

Well, no, I think the AirPower was not released for the express purpose of not starting on fire when you use it.

 

[iMEric984]

Oh really...? Apple Lisa, Apple Pippin, Newton, Quick Take 1,000, ANY Computer from the 80's and 90's where they licensed the OS to OEMs, the horrendous hockey puck mouse, Bendgate, the "You're just holding it wrong" iPhone, all recent versions of iTunes... Apple doesn't always knock it out of the park. Doesn't mean I don't like their things... just means they have had their share of failure too. That's how you learn and make a better product.

Samsung has been working on this for 7-8 years. That’s pathetic.

 

[Baymowe335]

They sold out the first time, and it will sell out when they come back to launch. In fact, addressing these issues will make many even more eager to get one.

How many did they sell? This is a niche product 1-3M units on the high end.

 

[WRChris]

And this is why Apple always waits to put out new tech. They wait until they can perfect it.

Lol, cmon. I remember my iPhone 4 couldn’t even be held without losing signal. This is bad for Samsung but to act as if apple are perfect about anything is a joke.

 

[Rafterman]

How many did they sell? This is a niche product 1-3M units on the high end.

The ones they had available, at $2,000. pop, were gone very quickly. I don't know hoe many they had, but if it is 1-3 million, it is still significant.

 

[cmaier]

Still better then Apple AirPower mats.

No it’s not. Apple had the good sense to pull it BEFORE reviewers realized there was a problem.

 

[Baymowe335]

The ones they had available, at $2,000. pop, were gone very quickly. I don't know hoe many they had, but if it is 1-3 million, it is still significant.

No it isn't.

Samsung is an enormous company and should focus on their failing Galaxy line more than novelty products.

 

[swarlos]

Foldgate. Or is Apple the only company that gets the honor of a -gate?

Of course  is the only company receiving the honor of gate status for any minor issue. Only other companies who have major glaring issues get a pass.

Really this should be labeled screen-gate or display-gate for the Fold.

At least Sammy is delaying the release but really if they hadn’t rushed it out in the first place none of this would have happened.

 

[GadgetBen]

This is why Apple waits.

 

[Rafterman]

No it isn't.

Samsung is an enormous company and should focus on their failing Galaxy line more than novelty products.

Yes, 1-3 million of a high priced experiment is very significant. It says there is a hunger for the foldable phone, even a questionable one. You can be assured Apple is taking note.

"Failing" Galaxy line?

LOL, you just outed yourself.

 

[realtuner]

Lol, cmon. I remember my iPhone 4 couldn’t even be held without losing signal. This is bad for Samsung but to act as if apple are perfect about anything is a joke.

That's an exaggeration. Most people never had any issues at all. A small number of people had minor issues.

Curious, did you claim your cash reward over the class action lawsuit that Apple settled over the iPhone 4? Do you remember how much you got?

I'll refresh your memory. It was $15 or a free bumper case. A problem that was so unbelievably bad and rendered the $600 iPhone 4 supposedly "useless" as a cell phone manages to scrape up a massive penalty to the tune of $15 per device.

Regardless what people "claim" happened with their device, the fact the settlement was only $15 proves that this issue was a non-issue. If it was as bad as people claim the settlement should have been substantially higher (even up to the full retail price of the iPhone), instead of only 2% ($15) of the value of the device.

 

[Rafterman]

That's an exaggeration. Most people never had any issues at all. A small number of people had minor issues.

Curious, did you claim your cash reward over the class action lawsuit that Apple settled over the iPhone 4? Do you remember how much you got?

I'll refresh your memory. It was $15 or a free bumper case. A problem that was so unbelievably bad and rendered the $600 iPhone 4 supposedly "useless" as a cell phone manages to scrape up a massive penalty to the tune of $15 per device.

Regardless what people "claim" happened with their device, the fact the settlement was only $15 proves that this issue was a non-issue. If it was as bad as people claim the settlement should have been substantially higher (even up to the full retail price of the iPhone), instead of only 2% ($15) of the value of the device.

Class action suits are notoriously useless for most people, except the lawyers.

 

[Baymowe335]

Yes, 1-3 million of a high priced experiment is very significant. It says there is a hunger for the foldable phone, even a questionable one. You can be assured Apple is taking note.

"Failing" Galaxy line?

LOL, you just outed yourself.

Not it isn't...Samsung is an enormous company. I'm a well known Apple supporter here, so there is no outing. The difference is, I use facts to make my cases.

"Sold out" sounds great, but we don't know the unit sales and likely never will. Even 1M units is likely a stretch and that'd be $2B in sales for a company with over $200B in revenue. Apple sold $166B in iPhones alone in 2018.

 

[realtuner]

The crease isn't a defect, it's a design choice, due to the technology available right now to make screens foldable. Under your logic, the Apple notch is a "defect" too, as it was needed to house the FaceID camera.

Curious. Does the notch get worse over time? Can you get debris under the notch causing it to deform/break? Does the notch change its appearance depending on temperature, content or external lighting? Will the notch eventually fail after repeated use?

They sold out the first time, and it will sell out when they come back to launch. In fact, addressing these issues will make many even more eager to get one.

Based on what? Your hopes? Samsung is famous for having "sell outs" that never amount to any actual significant numbers. Starting way back with their "smooth" sales of their first Galaxy Tab that ended up with very poor sales (numbers came out during the Apple/Samsung trial). I think it's optimistic to think even more people will want a Fold after all the bad press.