Zflip 4 - Multiple Issues

[tobeh_a]

Hey all, been reading up on here for a while about issues with the Flip/Fold phones. Wish I'd seen them before purchasing but c'est la vie...

My Flip4 has literally turned 2 years old (well, to the month) and has decided that it wants to turn off when its closed! This isn't the first issue I've had.

1st Year

• Screen Protector peeled within first 9 months, returned and replaced protector under "1st Time is Free" Warranty thing. Nice
• Phone gradually stopped opening to the full 180 degrees. Now only opens to 170ish degrees. Was in a case up to this point.
  • Didn't bother me too much, just made it awkward when laid on a flat surface to touch the top screen
  • Removed (Official Samsung) Case due to it being awkward to use and case kept catching on pocket and slipping off

16-18 Months in...

• Phone began exhibiting charging issues, the fabled "Too cold to charge" or "Too hot to charge" errors.
  • This was "solved" for a time, by charging when folded.
  • It also only "fast charged" in this position.
  • It would sometimes just stop charging and say charging stopped til temperature returned to normal.
    • I was using a PC usbc cable to essentially trickle charge my phone. So god knows how it wouldnt let that charge it.
• The screen protector, the replaced one, began peeling to the point where it was hanging off the phone at the centre.
• At this point, I flung it off to Samsung with the above list of issues, who then bunted it to one of their repair centres.
  • They reported back to me after about 9 days, that it was warranty voided due to some minor scratches on the corners of the phone that suggested it had been dropped. Don't think it had dropped more than 10cm onto a desk at any time.
  • Was informed that this type of phone should be looked after more than most phones due to their complex nature and technologies
  • Was informed that it would cost me appoximately £360ish (this was in July) to repair the phone.
  • I have 1 year left on contract, with nearly £500 left to pay towards the phone.#
  • Declined Repair
  • Samsung Sent it back to me. Didn't even replace the screen protector. Rude.

Today

• Phone refuses to charge, even when powered off and charging off the "trickle charge" from a PC usb port, shows me the Temperature Icon and does *nothing*
• Phone turns off when closed without charging cable plugged in
• Phone charging percentage will jump from 5% to 7% back to 4% upon turning back on
• Phone will not charge beyond its current percentage, eventually tells me to let phone warm up or cool down (I live in the UK, my house is not the arctic/surface of the sun)
• Having to use a backup iPhone 7 Plus which I upgraded from in the first place. That still works, though battery is around 75% service duty. But it works.

Now that you've read that, what are my options in the eyes of the community? I know Samsung will bat it back to me saying its warranty but there are countless posts and threads with the very same issues I've highlighted. Just looking for some sense and options moving forward that don't involve paying £350 to repair, £500 to upgrade to a different phone

I'm gutted because I love the phone, and I have a Galaxy Tab S9 FE and its my daily work driver, and a Galaxy watch. Bought into the ecosystem after X amount of years with Apple and now I feel gipped.]

Anyway, suggestions people? ❤️

[BandOfBrothers]

Hello @tobeh_a and may I extend a Warm Welcome to the Samsung Community Forum 👋 

I'm sorry to hear your experiencing these issues with your phone 😔 

As a Samsung Service Centre have already assessed the phone then they'll most likely stay with their assessment and fee. 

You could look at any relevant Household Contents Insurance, and or some bank accounts provide cover as a perk of the account. 

Do let us know how you get on please. 

I owned the Samsung Fold³ and only had the internal factory fitted screen protector delaminated. 

If i can be of any further help please don't hesitate to ask  😎 

[keith30]

Word of advice, Don't buy any foldables you'll save a lot of money and hassle in the long run, they might be so cool when you first get them but that wears off very quickly

[tobeh_a]

Thanks for the supportive comments, as an update, I've resorted to using a different phone in the interim while I troubleshoot the Flip4.

I think its definitely a hinge issue, as I've tried charging my phone and experimented with different ways. Turns out, because it never opens 100% of the way, I have found that in the interim (so I can get content off my phone) I can rest some heavy setted books on the phone to help it lay "flat" and suddenly it charges no problem without the "too hot/cold" error. While not a huge result and a bit of a faff, it at least gives me the chance to breathe life into it for a short while.

As above, I think this is definitely going to be my first and last fold phone for a very long time...

[Members_Ci8wQDi]

I too have this problem where my phone (bought Nov '22) automatically shuts down when folding. I was interested to see this problem for you started 2 years after purchase, as this is excatly the same for me.

I am so upset now having spoken to repairs and Samsung who will do absolutely nothing to help, suggesting impact damage as the cause, when, as we have all discovered, this is a widespread, well-documented manufacturing issue.

My phone was my little pride and joy, it was a gift from my mother for my 60th birthday, and I have looked after it incredibly well, it has never been dropped (as I think Samsung are trying to suggest). I have been quoted £400 for it to be repaired.

I have now asked for my un-repaired phone to be returned to me and I will just have to carry on using it as it is. In the future I will never buy another Samsung again.

[Al1969]

I wish I had an answer for you. My experience with Samsung and the Flip 4 has been TERRIBLE. I had an issue that was covered, then an out of warranty repair, and an outer cover issue, then the phone just froze and it isn't even worth repairing. I had to buy out a broken phone and it would cost more to fix than buying a certified refurbished one. SCREW  Samsung, I am switching to Google and Motorola and NEVER buying from them again