Short story:
My Samsung Z Fold 2 does not completely open anymore and I am not willing to pay for a repair. The only side effect I noticed so far after a few days is that when open the protective inner film lifts off in the middle. Is there any long term negative effect if I remove it?
Long story:
I have a Samsung Z Fold 2 purchased directly from Samsung Germany on April 2021. Starting last Saturday, after 2 years and 7 months, the phone does not completely open - and a few mm of the hinge remain exposed.
It is a shame - as this is my first phone I did not feel the urge to change on the 2 year mark. The phone did not suffer any mechanical shock, and the original screen protectors and still installed. The inner one does not even has a scratch, and the battery holds me more than one day with my usage even if I charge it to 85%.
Before it I owned an Lg G5 and that phone is still in use by my parents (but Lg is not producing phones anymore). After I switched to Huawei Mate RS Porsche Design which was used by my son for 2 years when I switched to Samsung Fold 2. (Huawei was banned from Google apps). So the Fold is my first phone to have a defect while in use… well done Samsung.
I have to say this phone gave me great usage satisfaction so far and introduced me to Samsung. I never had a Samsung device before, but after it, I bought the buds live and the buds pro, a Samsung soundbar with subwoofer and satellites and the watch 5 pro.
And still the Fold 2 is the device which will make say goodbye to Samsung, as it did not hold to the resilience and quality promise by Samsung. 200000 cycles they said?
And now the Samsung repair service is estimating 493 € for a hinge repair which is supposed to hold 100 folds per day for 5 years.
The only good thing coming out of it is that I was planning to upgrade my Tv and Samsung s95c and QN95c were on top of my list.
You fool me once shame on you (Samsung),
you fool me twice - shame on me.
So goodbye Samsung and hopping Honor Magic V2 will launch soon in Europe.
" Durability was factored in, too, as the hinge can be tested up to 200,000 folds, able to withstand heavy, everyday usage. " Since you were an early adopter, you got shafted because these tests were done in a dust-free controlled environment. If there’s a moving part, there a much higher chance in failure.
True indeed - I was worried about the mechanical part, this is why I did not went for a first generation fold. I also expected to see some wear or tear in the screen itself, but did not expect a mechanical failure of the hinge. Afterall I really trusted samsung tests. Und, yes I feel shafted …
You are not alone…
I had to send in my Fold 4 in because the protector was peeling off and the phone did not fold flat anymore. Now it has been in Poland (Ctdi) for two weeks and i did not hear anything from them. Even if they repair it for free (we will see what they say) within warranty i will not buy a foldable again. If they refuse to repair it because its has a small scratch on the hinge i will never buy any Samsung device again.
I really wonder if the folds and flips are worth for Samsung. So many people have issues with the screen and the hinge. They might lose lots of customers and money
The only other phone i ever had to RMA was a OnePlus 3T with motherboard failure