They’re looking to remedy the issues discovered by reviewers

After several review units of their new Galaxy Fold broke in the hands of reviewers, Samsung is officially putting a hold on the global launch of the Galaxy Fold. The company’s first foldable phone was supposed to ship to US customers this week, but after what happened, that’s no longer viable.

Samsung said through a statement that they’re looking to strengthen the display’s protection as well as make sure that people know that they’re not supposed to take off the protective cover of the display, an issue that led to some of the Galaxy Folds breaking in just a day or two.

While Samsung’s postponement is a bummer, it’s absolutely the right move to take in the face of these high-profile breakages. Delaying the launch of an unheard of, extremely innovative new product category to make sure they don’t break in paying consumer’s hands is preferable to a repeat of the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, though Samsung does need to figure out why it came close to releasing a product that had very concerning design flaws to the public.

Samsung’s full statement is below.

We recently unveiled a completely new mobile category: a smartphone using multiple new technologies and materials to create a display that is flexible enough to fold. We are encouraged by the excitement around the Galaxy Fold.

While many reviewers shared with us the vast potential they see, some also showed us how the device needs further improvements that could ensure the best possible user experience.

To fully evaluate this feedback and run further internal tests, we have decided to delay the release of the Galaxy Fold. We plan to announce the release date in the coming weeks.

Initial findings from the inspection of reported issues on the display showed that they could be associated with impact on the top and bottom exposed areas of the hinge. There was also an instance where substances found inside the device affected the display performance.

We will take measures to strengthen the display protection. We will also enhance the guidance on care and use of the display including the protective layer so that our customers get the most out of their Galaxy Fold.

We value the trust our customers place in us and they are always our top priority. Samsung is committed to working closely with customers and partners to move the industry forward. We want to thank them for their patience and understanding.