Galaxy Fold Event Postponed in East Asia after display damage controversy

The world's smartphone giant, Samsung Electronics Ltd has postponed media events for its Galaxy Fold which were to be held this week in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. This comes at a time after reviewers discovered defective samples.

A spokesman said Samsung is taking time to ensure that the Galaxy Fold units are in optimum shape for the users' experience at the event. Moreover, the conglomerate has been blighted by technology journalists reporting breaks, bulges and blinking screens after using the samples for as little as a day.

The smartphone giant has received reports of damage to the displays of samples of US$1,980 handset, raising the spectre of the combustible Galaxy Note 7 three years ago which the firm ultimately pulled from the shelves at a massive cost. Reviews of broken screens went viral online. An official said Samsung was thoroughly investigating the damage reports as previously announced and declined to comment on whether there would be any change to the US release date.

Sources say Samsung has failed the folding design as the future in a field that has seen few surprises since Apple Inc's iPhone in 2007. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd has also announced a folding handset, the Mate X.