In the first batch of Galaxy Fold reviews, some critics complained of screen malfunctions and other hardware problems. (Business Insider did not experience any such issues). Despite the impressive specs, reporters largely recommended against buying the phone until the issues were resolved ("I have never used a device with this many problems that I have liked this much," noted The Verge's two-star review.)
Samsung went back to the drawing board, and debuted a revised version of the phone on September 5 at IFA 2019. We haven't gotten to test out the new device yet, but reports from the conference indicate that it looks much better: The crease, which our reviewer decried, is now less pronounced, and the screen is more stable and better-protected.
Even so, the nearly $2,000 price tag is likely more than most folks want to spend on a phone. But if money is no object, or you're willing to shell out for a luxury device, the Fold looks to be a more justifiable purchase than it was in April.
Most notably, the Galaxy Fold has one of the best smartphone screens out there, with a 7.3-inch display with 2,152 x 1,536 resolution. That's not too far off the size of the 7.8-inch iPad Mini, with a better resolution (and crisper picture, according to Business Insider's side-by-side test) to boot. The massive screen is nifty, and a split-screen mode allows you to run up to three apps at a time.
The battery is quite good as well. The Galaxy Fold lasted a full two days in our battery test, which included a combination of web browsing, video, and gaming at less than half brightness.
Into the nitty gritty: The Fold has 12GB RAM, which is the same as Samsung's beastly Note 10 Plus, and better than just about any other smartphone on the market (the iPhone XS Max has 4GB). Devices with more RAM can smoothly run more apps at once, so it's extra-important in a phone for which multitasking is a calling card.
You're also getting a decent camera setup, combining a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens. For Samsung die-hards: Yes, that's the same setup as that of the Galaxy S10, so don't buy the Fold just for the camera.
We'll be updating this page with more information about buying the Galaxy Fold as it's available, so check back if you're interested.
For more information about the Galaxy Fold, check out our full review.