Nothing left to Flex: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Series
It's all fun and games with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip phones, until you start having some of their many latent issues.
I've had the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 for over 2 years, and as a tech journalist I regret moving over from my iPhone.
The first few months of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3, were the honeymoon phase. The phone folded like it should, fitted snuggly in my pocket, and took great pictures.
6 months down the line I started noticing a line across the screen and it was quite annoying when watching any content or editing content, which I mostly do.
I visited the Samsung Store, and was told that I would need a new screen protector, as everytime I fold the phone I was damaging the protector, and dirt was getting in under.
I thought the purpose was to fold the phone, but I then started folding it less, and less (even while creating content), to the point where I was not folding it any longer.... so much for the "Flex".
I lived with the fact that I now had an unflipping Flip phone.
It didn't end there however, a few months later, my selfie camera was blur. I tried cleaning it, but still no luck, and that was the end of me taking any selfies or videos from that camera.
The real problem occurred a few months later. The phone now started to have green lines running down it, and I would need to follow a whole process to get the screen clear again.
1. I would fold it (which I was not doing at all now)
2. The phone would then not respond at all, so
3. I would need to charge it to boot the phone up again, and it seemingly worked for a few days until the lines started appearing again.
Back to the Samsung Store at Sandton City I go again, to ask them to assist with this new issue. They mentioned that all that I had experienced thus far was a common problem amongst the Flip series of phones, and that I would need to go to the Samsung Customer Care Service Centre in Rivonia Road for them to replace the screen.
Now this is where it gets very interesting.
I visit the Samsung Customer Care Service Centre, and ask them to assist as I explain my issue which is a latent issue among the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series of phones.
I am told by the consultant that my warranty had expired three days prior to me visiting the Customer Care Centre, so now I will be liable for any costs attached to repairing the phone.
I was further told that I would need to pay R250 for a technician to have a look and see what the problem is, but that it is most likely that the main screen needs to be replaced, which will cost me between R9000 and R11000 - which by the way is more than I would get if I sold the phone privately or what Samsung would give me if I traded it in for a newer device.
For the next few months I would live with the problems of this phone, until a JMPD officer, who while assaulting me, decided to take my phone without my permission, and probably folded it (I was lying on the ground - where he shoved me - so I couldn't see what was happening), and now the main screen is totally blank, but the device is still working, as I can hear sounds and the other screen does come on.
Once again I try and get assistance from Samsung only to find out that the Samsung Z Flip3 does not have Samsung DeX (a feature on some Samsung devices which allows you to extend your device into a desktop-like experience). The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 also is not compatible with HDMI, so you cannot connect your phone to another screen or TV.
Of course trying to connect to Samsung Switch is also out of the question as you need to allow access to the device which can only be done via the main screen.
I tried reaching out to the Samsung Head Office team and their PR team at Cheil, but at the time of publishing this article, no one has responded to my communication.
Where does that leave me and all my important information on the device?
The only option for me or other Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 owners who have experienced similar issues (and there are quite a few from people whom I have spoken to in-person as well as online users), is to replace the main screen, or use the device as a door stopper.
Ziyaad Plaatjes is the Co-Founder of iloveza.com & Let's Torque ZA, the Founder of the After Fajr Grind Academy, a Radio Host for the longest running award-winning Motoring show in South Africa - Bumper2Bumper on Cii Radio, and a Brand South Africa Play Your Part Ambassador, who was named one of Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in the Arts, Entertainment, Film & Media Category.
He is a Bachelor of Commerce Honours graduate and has been running businesses since the age of 13. Ziyaad is a social media fundi and content creator, but has taken on many roles in various industries over the years. With his entrepreneurial skills and vast knowledge he assists individuals and businesses to grow and achieve their goals.
Find him at: Instagram: @ziyaad_86 / @ilovezacom / @letstorqueza / @b2bcii X: @ziyaad86 / @ilovezacom / @letstorqueza / @b2bcii Facebook: iloveza.com / Let's Torque ZA LinkedIn: Ziyaad Plaatjes / iloveza.com YouTube: iloveza.com SoundCloud: iloveza.com TikTok: @ilovezacom / @b2bcii Threads: @ilovezacom iono.fm: Bumper2Bumper Hashtags: #AfterFajrGrind #iloveza❤️🇿🇦 #LetsTorqueZA #B2BCii #WheresDaddyZA E-mail: ziyaad@iloveza.com
