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iFixit quietly pulls its revealing teardown of the 'flawed' Galaxy Fold at Samsung's request


Samsung has forced iFixit, a site that posts repair guides and teardowns, to remove its review of the beleaguered Galaxy Fold.

The Korean tech giant has been hit with a wave of controversy since it emerged that review units of its $2,000 folding phone quit working after one or two days of minimal use. 

iFixit’s review, originally published on Wednesday, helped illuminate many of the device’s fatal design flaws.  

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Samsung has forced iFixit, a site that posts repair guides and teardowns, to remove its review of the Galaxy Fold after the post illuminated many of the design flaws with the device

Samsung has forced iFixit, a site that posts repair guides and teardowns, to remove its review of the Galaxy Fold after the post illuminated many of the design flaws with the device

iFixit penned a blog post explaining that its ‘trusted partner’ was contacted by Samsung with the takedown request.

‘After two days of intense public interest, iFixit has removed our teardown of Samsung’s Galaxy Fold,’ iFixit explained. 

‘We were provided our Galaxy Fold unit by a trusted partner. Samsung has requested, through that partner, that iFixit remove its teardown. 

‘We are under no obligation to remove our analysis, legal or otherwise. But out of respect for this partner, whom we consider an ally in making devices more repairable, we are choosing to withdraw our story until we can purchase a Galaxy Fold at retail,’ the site added. 

In its review, iFixit described the Fold as an ‘alarmingly fragile’ device.  

A teardown by iFixit revealed what may have led to the $2,000 device's downfall. After tearing apart the phone, the site discovered that design flaws made it 'alarmingly fragile'

A teardown by iFixit revealed what may have led to the $2,000 device’s downfall. After tearing apart the phone, the site discovered that design flaws made it ‘alarmingly fragile’

WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE GALAXY FOLD TO BREAK? 

  • The device’s ‘alarmingly fragile’ display likely couldn’t withstand the pressure from the hinge as it was opened and closed. 
  • A 7mm gap between where the two display halves meet invites dust, dirt and other damaging particles to get trapped underneath the display. 
  • The device is made with an OLED display, which is extremely delicate compared to traditional LCD screens, and is susceptible to even the slightest of damage.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Samsung for comment about the takedown request.

Samsung’s decision to request a takedown of iFixit’s report doesn’t exactly help its case with the Galaxy Fold. 

Many have made the comparison between the Galaxy Fold debacle and its notorious Note 7 scandal, in which the company was forced to recall the device after its battery became overheated and, in some cases, exploded during use. 

However, it’s unclear whether the flaws with the Galaxy Fold would have been quite as widespread as those encountered with the Note 7, had the Fold been purchased by the public in its current form.

During its teardown, iFixit discovered that a 7mm gap between where the two display halves meet would’ve trapped dust, dirt and other harmful particles.  

‘Unlike the dull slabs of glass we’re used to, this smartphone/tablet hybrid has lots of potential entry points – and not the good kind,’ iFixit explained. 

‘To achieve the fold, the thin bezel that surrounds (and protects) the screen leaves a gap where the two halves meet. 

‘This 7 mm gap doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but it leaves the display exposed – so should something accidentally enter, it’s curtains for the screen,’ the site added.  

Additionally, iFixit found that the Galaxy Fold’s delicate OLED display would likely not be able to handle the stress of being folded and unfolded repeatedly. 

iFixit noticed during its tear down that the folding phone has 'lots of potential entry points - and not the good kind.' These entry points let significant debris inside, damaging the display

A 7mm gap between where the two halves meet could trap dirt and dust particles, iFixit said. The site was able to fit picks in between the device's display and casing

A 7mm gap between where the two halves meet could trap dirt and dust particles, iFixit said. The site was able to fit picks in between the device’s display and casing

It would ‘almost certainly’ require the user to repair the 7.3-inch interior display not long after purchase, which would be pricey, the site added.   

The firm also found that removing the protective display from the interior screen caused the device to malfunction. 

‘The display could technically function without the layer, but it is so tightly adhered and the display is so fragile that it’s difficult to remove without applying display-breaking pressure,’ iFixit said. 

A full copy of the iFixit teardown can still be viewed via the Internet Archive. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GALAXY FOLD? 

Samsung debuted the $2,000 Galaxy Fold to great fanfare in February.  

But journalists who received review units ahead of the Fold launch in late April reported experiencing issues with the interior screen.  

After just one or two days of use, users said the display began to flicker and turn black before becoming completely unusable. 

Last week, journalists who received review units ahead of the Fold launch reported experiencing issues with the interior screen

The display would flicker and go completely black at times, rendering the device useless

Last week, journalists who received review units ahead of the Fold launch reported experiencing issues with the interior screen. The display would flicker and go black

The issues are believed to stem from the hinge causing too much pressure on the screen. 

Some said they had removed a protective layer on the screen that was supposed to stay on.

Meanwhile, others said they didn’t remove the protective film, but the device still stopped working.         

YouTube user Marques Brownlee said he removed the protective film and his device began having issues

YouTube user Marques Brownlee said he removed the protective film and his device began having issues

A warning on the Galaxy Fold packaging instructs users not to remove the protective layer, according to a photo posted by T-Mobile Senior Product Manager Desmond Smith. 

‘The main screen includes a special protective layer,’ it reads. ‘Peeling off the protective layer or using any adhesives on the main screen, such as screen protectors or stickers, may cause damage.’

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman said his Galaxy Fold started operating abnormally after he removed the film and eventually became unusable.  

Additionally, YouTube user Marques Brownlee said he removed the protective film and his device began having issues.   

But Dieter Bohn, executive editor of technology news site The Verge, says he left that layer on and his screen still broke.  

The issues raise questions about whether or not the Galaxy Fold can withstand normal use.    



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