Samsung's Galaxy Fold set to launch September 6 in South Korea

Yna.co.kr reports that Samsung and the three biggest mobile carriers from South Korea are currently discussing to speed up the Galaxy Fold launch. Initially scheduled for a late September release, the Galaxy Fold is now expected to be available in the first week of September.

With this move, Samsung hopes to reignite global interest for its foldable at the 2019 IFA expo in Berlin, which opens its doors on September 6. After the debacle with the failing displays in early May, Samsung has ensured that the revised models are better tested before launch. The main improvements include a protective plastic layer that is now tucked under the display bezels so that users do not accidentally peel it off, minimized gaps between the case and the hinge with additional protective caps, plus a new metal layer placed between the display and the internal hardware.

Korean sources claim that the first wave of Galaxy Fold handhelds will include 20,000 to 30,000 units and the majority will be reserved for South Korea, although a fraction will still make its way to the Chinese and U.S. markets in late September. Samsung itself has not yet confirmed this new release schedule.

Such a small initial wave clearly points out to cumbersome production costs that are extensively reflected in the US$2,000 launch price. Hopefully, Samsung manages to streamline its foldable production pipeline for the 2020 models and come up with more reasonable prices.