Folding phones are an unfolding disaster

Damon Beres notes that the situation with folding displays is quickly going to hell.

Enter Samsungs Galaxy Fold, a kind of metal and glass taco that could define a new category of personal deviceprovided the company can get the thing to work. Several tech writers accidentally broke the gadgets foldable display shortly after receiving review units, which led Samsung to delay the Galaxy Folds launch indefinitely. On Monday, the company said it would provide an update in the next few weeks. (Samsungs official preorder link for the Galaxy Fold now leads to a 404 page.)

But even if Samsung eventually says it has worked out the kinks, you shouldnt buy one. Not yet, anyway. There are the obvious problems that go beyond the breakable display. The Galaxy Fold is gut-blastingly expensive at $1,980, and review units contained design flaws that were revealed in a teardown by iFixit. (Facing pressure from Samsung, iFixit later removed its examination out of respect to the partner that leaked the phone.)

Unrepairable at any cost short of buying a new one, too. Read the rest