Samsung cancels Galaxy Fold events in China amid malfunctioning screen claims

Samsung has reportedly cancelled press events for its Galaxy Fold smartphone that had been scheduled in China this week. The move comes just days after the new folding phone, priced at nearly $2,000, has had some issues with screens breaking for reviewers.

The South Korean tech giant over the weekend postponed press events planned for Tuesday and Wednesday in Hong Kong and Shanghai, respectively, according to several media reports. 

No reason was provided for the cancelation of the Hong Kong event, reported Richard Lai, Engadget senior editor, who is based in Hong Kong and is also editor in chief for Engadget Chinese. But Samsung reportedly had a problem with the Shanghai venue, according to China's National Business Daily.

No new dates have been set for either press event, Endadget's Li reported, and there was no word on whether an event planned Thursday for Taipei is going on as planned.

The 4.6-inch foldable hybrid phone, which when opened transforms into a 7.3-inch tablet, is scheduled to be released in the U.S. and other selected markets on Friday.

But last week, several reviewers with early review units of the Galaxy Fold reported major display issues on the tablet screen only a couple of days into testing. In some cases, the phone became useless.

Apparently causing some of the problems: several reviewers removed a protective film covering the Fold's screen, which was not supposed to be removed.

USA TODAY's Edward C. Baig and Eli Blumenthal, who are reviewing the product, did not remove the film on the phone and have not had any issues to this point. That has not been the case for CNBC’s Todd Haselton, who also did not remove the film but wound up with the screen on his review unit flickering and turning off and on at a rapid pace.

Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the situation.

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