SAMSUNG’S highly-anticipated folding phone launches in the US and South Korea today, following delays caused by screen malfunctions.
The Galaxy Fold will cost about US$1,980 (RM8,302) for South Korean buyers and US$2,000 (RM8,386) for US consumers.
Android users can purchase the Galaxy Fold from select Samsung, Best Buy Stores and certain AT&T locations.
However, a detailed “care instruction” guide is included that advises consumers to keep it away from objects, to not apply “excessive pressure” and to not expose the Fold to liquids or small particles.
The Galaxy Fold boasts a 7.3-inch AMOLED display designed with polymer material layered for flexibility – and is the largest Galaxy smartphone screen yet.
It is equipped with six pro-grade cameras and an Infinity Flex Display that can be used as a massive viewfinder.
Users can enjoy 12GB of RAM for gaming to streaming and live broadcasting, all at once.
And it is equipped with 512GB of storage for apps and other media.
The highly-anticipated device from the world's top smartphone maker was originally due to hit the US market in April, but was beset with myriad flaws.
In an initial test, Samsung's Galaxy Fold saw several problems with its display and hinge mechanism that damaged and contorted its screen – problems that were only illuminated after the company sent the devices to several tech journalists.
Samsung took several months to rectify the problems.
Delays cost the South Korean tech giant sales that could have provided a decent bump in revenue during the slow summer season.
Samsung's tribulations with its now-notorious Galaxy Fold however, haven't been enough to deter the smart phone giant from dreaming up new collapsible devices.
According to anonymous sources quoted in a report from Bloomberg, the company is already designing a second foldable phone that can scale down to a “compact square.”
The device will reportedly have a 6.7 inch inner display that will collapse into a square small enough to slide into one's pocket and evoke a retro “clamshell” design popularised in the heyday of flip-phones.
The nascent device will also reportedly have an array of cameras on both the front and back, including a hole-punch style front-facing lens similar to the one that appears in the newest addition of the Galaxy Note.
There will also be two rear-facing cameras which will have different functionalities depending on how the phone is positioned – folded open, the device will be able to use both cameras, but with one half folded shut, users will be limited to only one.
As noted by Bloomberg, one major advantage the phone will have over Samsung's Galaxy Fold will be its shape.
Samsung's newest smartphone will fold out into what is essentially the shape of a normal smart phone, meaning developers won't have to design custom aspect ratios for apps on the device like they do with the more square Galaxy Fold display.
In theory, the phone sounds like an improvement on the larger, more expensive, foldable phones currently in production – however, it remains to be seen whether the device will be able to avoid critical flaws that have plagued devices of its ilk. – DAILY MAIL
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