Samsung Fold/Flip owners BEWARE

Absynth

I have been a loyal Samsung customer since the very first Samsung phones came out, and have enjoyed my Galaxy Z-Fold 3 since buying it in August 2021. Last week, the inner screen developed a major fault - a thick black line appeared down the hinge and the right side of the phone stopped being a touch screen. The phone has never been dropped or damaged, and I contacted their support to book in my phone for an investigation and warrantee repair. The warrantee is good for 2 years.

When they saw the phone, they told me the damage on the hinge (I have included photos) was sufficient to void the screen warrantee, and I would have to pay for a replacement screen (about £400). The damage is 3 very light, almost invisible scratches!! These have been sufficient to 'break' the internal screen. This phone cost £1,399!!!

So, ANY damage (scratch, dent, knock or mark) will make you liable to pay for the screen if it fails. BEWARE

ididgetwhereiamtoday

This has always been the case with any standard phone guarantee. You can pay extra for insurance though. 

Absynth

Phone insurances specifically exclude 'cosmetic damage' from their claims, I believe - and if I tried to claim on my household insurance for this damage, I'd be laughed at...

MrSilk

I'm sorry this has happened to you, this is what is putting me off purchasing a foldable phone. In February it was either the new S23 or the Fold 5 and I chose the S23 due to reports of screen issues and there is a lot of reports of Samsung refusing to repair under warrenty. I think there is a long way to go before foldable screens are more robust.

WelshPaul

To be fair, it's only Samsung foldable phones that are prone to failing like this.

Absynth

I am just stunned that these 3 'scratches' both invalidate the warrantee AND cause the inner screen to fail. For £1300+, I would expect a more robust product, or for Samsung to at least recognise that this is a design issue and fix it as a gesture of good-will

It is being collected for a 'Samsung UK' opinion, but I am not holding my breath....

matelodave

I find it really hard to believe that anyone would pay £1300 for a phone, even if it was gold plated.

WelshPaul

It's not just a phone though, is it @matelodave? It's a camera, camcorder, GPS device, map, compass, calculator, computer, portable TV, music player, storage device, torch etc... I could go on and on. You can buy a car for £500 or £50,000. The end user experience between both will vary greatly!

Supatramp

WelshPaul said:

It's not just a phone though, is it @matelodave? It's a camera, camcorder, GPS device, map, compass, calculator, computer, portable TV, music player, storage device, torch etc... I could go on and on. You can buy a car for £500 or £50,000. The end user experience between both will vary greatly!

But I'm sure my Moto G8 Plus does all of these things, and yet it cost me significantly less than £200!!

But hey ho!!

flaneurs_lobster

By combining various discounts and cashbacks it is (was?) possible to get the price of a Samsung Z Flip 4 down to about £600.

As a tech geek I really wanted one, the design and spec just shouted "buy me" but being a grown-up I did my due diligence and found the various sites where such things are discussed are awash with stories of screen and hinge failures and Samsung's obstinacy in admitting repairs are covered by warranty, and when repairs are made they rarely last a year before the same fault re-occurs.

Bought a Samsung slab instead. 

ProDave

Sorry but I would never pay £1300 for a phone.  They have a hard life, likely get dropped and scratched, they need to be throw away money for me. (mine have always been relatives cast off's when they upgrade)