The Fold, which opens as a book, will go on sale Friday in South Korea. Sales in other countries, including France, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, will follow, although Samsung did not say exactly when the phone would reach those markets.
The collapsible phone, which will cost $ 1,980, was originally due out in April. These plans were set aside after the first users reported how quickly the device failed.
"We are now excited to launch this pioneering mobile technology and allow consumers to use it on their own," said DJ Koh, president and chief executive officer of Samsung's IT & Mobile Communications division, in a statement. a statement.
The main selling point of the 4.6 inch smartphone is that it opens on a 7.3 inch tablet. But the examiners complained of several problems, including faulty hinges and broken screens, after confusing the Fold's protective film with a disposable shield and removing it.
Samsung announced changes to the phone's design in July. It has reinforced the hinge area of the phone and extended the top protective layer so that users know that it is not supposed to be removed. The company has also added hoods to protect the top and bottom of the phone hinge.
Early criticism was a setback for Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker. The company has been striving to regain the trust of its customers after the fiasco of its Galaxy Note 7 in 2016. Millions of these devices have been recalled due to reports of battery explosion. Samsung subsequently stopped production and sales of this phone.
Consumers are likely to be reluctant to buy the Galaxy Fold because of its high price and early reports of broken screens, an analyst said in July. But he added that it would probably not affect Samsung's reputation or position in the market because the demand for folding devices was not great.
Samsung's new phone will compete with the foldable phone of his rival Huawei. The Chinese tech company is expected to launch its Mate X worth $ 2,600 later this year. The phone has been delayed so that Huawei can test it further. Huawei has not yet announced an official release date.
Samsung is also facing problems in its memory chip business. Global demand has slowed and a dispute between Japan and South Korea threatens to restrict the supply of chemicals that Samsung needs to make semiconductors.
