Samsung Still Has No Idea When the Galaxy Fold Will Launch

Samsung on Tuesday acknowledged that it is unable to provide a firm release date for its Galaxy Fold smartphone and has contacted pre-order customers in the United States to apologize for the delay (via Reuters).

galaxy fold kv device

"If we do not hear from you and we have not shipped by May 31st, your order will be canceled automatically," the South Korean tech giant's U.S. subsidiary told Galaxy Fold pre-order customers in an email late on Monday, which was confirmed by a Samsung spokeswoman.

In a statement given to Reuters, Samsung said that U.S. regulations required the company to notify customers that pre-orders would be canceled if the product did not ship by May 31.

The South Korean company originally planned to roll out its $1,980 foldable phone on April 26, but was forced to delay the launch after several units sent out to reviewers broke during testing.

After recalling the review units, Samsung contacted pre-order customers on April 22, saying it would announce a new release date "in the coming weeks" and would take measures to strengthen the display protection. The device's screen was shown to be vulnerable to debris ingress, thanks to an iFixit teardown that was later removed at Samsung's request.

The development is the latest in a series of embarrassing events for Samsung, whose hybrid tablet/smartphone was supposed to demonstrate the company leading innovation in the mobile space. Still, at least the device in its current state won't get into the hands of thousands of customers around the world, which would likely have turned into a larger problem.

Samsung has said it plans to make at least 1 million Galaxy Fold handsets in the first year of production, compared to the total 300 million phones it produces annually on average. It originally closed pre-orders for the device early because of "high demand."

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...

Top Rated Comments

keysofanxiety Avatar
86 months ago
At least they're trying to innovate, unlike Apple shoving down the same stuff down our throats for the past few years and making us pay premium.
Innovation =/= something different to anything else on the market.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Abazigal Avatar
86 months ago
At least they're trying to innovate, unlike Apple shoving down the same stuff down our throats for the past few years and making us pay premium.
History is written by the victors.

Nobody remembers who did it first, only who did it best.
Score: 51 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kevinbeared Avatar
86 months ago
Was it worth to rush and put out this ****** unfinished product just to say "we were first.." i don't think so.

Somebody at the top must be preparing a powerpoint to explain his decision but it will not be enough lol..
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dharma-P Avatar
86 months ago
At least they're trying to innovate, unlike Apple shoving down the same stuff down our throats for the past few years and making us pay premium.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AnthonyHarris Avatar
86 months ago
tell that to Schiller and the touchbar. While the execution failed, I think Samsung swung for the fences, something that Apple has not done in a long time.
But the Touch Bar actually works, and people use it. It isn't the most useful thing Apple have ever done, but if we are going to use the same justification you throw out there for Samsung *At least they were trying.*
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Valkyre Avatar
86 months ago
At least they're trying to innovate, unlike Apple shoving down the same stuff down our throats for the past few years and making us pay premium.
This is so hypocritical...

Samsung releases a 2,000 plus $ phone of which the 1,000$ is pretty much just for the folding feature, that it also doesnt have a HEADPHONE JACK (you know the absolute must have feature of 2019)!!

Everyone celebrates and justifies pricing, no headphone jack is suddenly ok, everything is rainbows and butterflies.

Said phone eventually breaks after 2 days of use and it is revealed that the damn thing has a QA standard that is laughable at best. Company decides to cancel the release until further notice with no end in sight.

Yet everyone still somehow praises the company for "innovating"... in some ridiculous way to these people innovation is releasing some crap that is far from being ready just for bragging rights...

Are you ****ing kidding me? I mean there is hypocrisy and then there is this... I cant even understand how some people have the nerve to be such hypocrites and think that no one will notice them...

I would love to be in an alternate timeline in which apple released the fold and had all these issues samsung one has. Just to witness these same people complete mental breakdown and mockery...

Hypocrites.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)