As Samsung’s foldable phone breaks, Huawei fans await the Mate X

Netizens are suspicious of abundant praise for the Samsung Galaxy Fold in China

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Published: 7:00am, 26 Apr 2019Updated: 7:41am, 26 Apr 2019

Now that consumers have gotten a glimpse of the first foldable smartphones, all eyes are on Samsung and Huawei delivering devices into people's hands. But reports are now coming out showing the Samsung Galaxy Fold breaking, and people in China are wondering how the Huawei Mate X will hold up.

Reviewers in the US have been reporting various issues with Samsung's US$2,000 phone. Units are seen to either completely break or have serious screen glitches. It could have something to do with what looks like a protective layer on the interior folding display. At least two reviewers tried peeling it off thinking it was a bundled screen protector, only to have the screen go dark.

Some tech bloggers are now tempering expectations for the upcoming Huawei Mate X. Samsung's screen folds inwards, theoretically lending it some protection -- so if these screens are breaking, some argue that Huawei's outward folding phone has an even greater risk of being damaged.

Others in China think that the broken Galaxy Fold could be good for Huawei.

“The war hasn’t even started and it’s already over,” one person commented on Weibo.

A more enthusiastic commenter said, “It won’t be long before Huawei becomes the world’s No.1!”