Samsung Galaxy Fold orders could be cancelled as release date still not announced for bendy phone
The folding phone had been touted as the device of the future – but its screen kept breaking
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Samsung will start cancelling orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of the month unless it can finally bring it to market, it has said.
The company's bendy device – which folds out in the middle to make the screen twice as big – had been touted as the future of mobile computing when it was launched earlier this year.
But as soon as it got into the hands of reviewers, the phone started breaking. The screens on early units appeared to bulge and then stop working, along with other problems.
Samsung recalled the reviewers' versions and postponed the launch of the new phone. It has not announced when the phones will be coming back to market.
Now it says that if it is not able to confirm a shipping date before the end of the month, it will be cancelling the device.
“If we do not hear from you and we have not shipped by May 31st, your order will be cancelled automatically,” Samsung said in an email to customers who had pre-ordered the phone, which costs nearly $2,000.
It said it was unable to say when the phone would be out and apologised to those who had already committed to buying it.
If the company is still able to ship the phone by 31 May, then existing orders will go through, the company said. But it is still yet to announce a release date or even give a rough indication of whether and when the phone might return to the market.
Samsung had hoped to sell a million of the new phones, in comparison with the total 300 million it produces each year. Demand for that relatively limited run had been very high, the company said, forcing it to close pre-orders early.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments