Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip repair
A foldable Samsung has parts a regular smartphone does not have: a folding inner screen with its own protective film, a separate outer screen, a hinge and a flex cable connecting both halves. When something goes wrong, the visible problem does not always tell you which part is faulty.
Have you already been told the whole screen needs replacing? At FIXNOW we replace the flex cable, protective film, hinge, frame, bezel and outer screen as separate parts, for every Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip in our catalogue. That way a working screen can stay in place. What your device needs is established after an assessment: the damage we find decides, not the visible symptom. You can visit us in Antwerp and Wolvertem, or send your device in.
What is going on?
Pick what you recognise. You land on the explanation, not on an automatically selected repair.
How a foldable Samsung is built
- 1Protective filmReplaceable top layer on the inner screen
- 2Inner screenFoldable OLED panel with ultra-thin glass
- 3Outer screenSeparate screen on the outside of the device
- 4Flex cableConnects the electronics of both halves through the hinge
- 5HingeFolding mechanism between the two halves
- 6Frame and bezelChassis of each half and the edge around the inner screen
What can go wrong in a Fold or Flip
The same complaint can come from different parts. The table helps you name the problem; which repair your device really needs is only established after an assessment.
| What you notice | What we check | Possible repair |
|---|---|---|
| Film lifting at the fold or forming bubbles | Film, the layer beneath it, image and touch | New film, or an inner screen if the layer beneath is damaged |
| Device shuts off or image disappears when opening or closing | Flex cable through the hinge, connectors, screen | Flex cable or connector; screen only if the panel itself is faulty |
| No longer opens flat, feels stiff or sits crooked | Hinge, frame, bezel and tension on the inner screen | Hinge, frame or bezel, depending on what is deformed |
| Line, black spot or dead zone in the inner screen | The folding panel itself | Inner screen as a module |
| Crack or black image on the outer screen | The outer screen, separate from the inner screen | Outer screen |
| Bezel or frame damaged after a drop | Frame, bezel, hinge and both screens | Frame or bezel; sometimes together with a screen |
Inner screen, outer screen and film: three different parts
The inner screen is the large folding panel. On top sits a protective film that Samsung applies at the factory and that belongs to the screen. Beneath it are an ultra-thin glass layer and the OLED panel that produces the image. A new film therefore does not fix a defect in the image.
The outer screen is a separate part on the outside of the device. A crack in it is independent of the inner screen and is assessed separately too. The reverse also applies: a black inner screen while the outer screen works points to the inner screen or to a connection, not to the outer screen.
How to describe your problem
- Which screen: the inner screen or the outer screen?
- Is the defect on the surface (film) or in the image itself (line, spot, area without image)?
- Does touch still work everywhere?
- Does the behaviour change when you open or close the device?
- Has the device been dropped or repaired before?
What can be replaced separately and when the whole screen is needed
Film, flex cable, hinge, outer screen and inner screen are separate parts. The principle at FIXNOW: we replace what is faulty and leave what works alone. Whether that is possible depends on your model and on the condition of the parts around the damage.
| Situation | What we assess |
|---|---|
| Only the film damaged, image and touch fine | Whether the layer beneath is intact; if so, we fit a new original Samsung film |
| Image drops out when folding, panel undamaged | Whether the flex cable or a connector is the cause; we replace it on its own |
| Hinge stiff or crooked, screens fine | Which part is deformed: hinge, frame or bezel, which we replace on their own, without touching the inner screen |
| Line, spot or dead zone in the image | The inner screen itself; it is replaced as a module |
| Outer screen cracked | Only the outer screen; the inner screen stays in place |
We carry out all of these repairs for every Fold and Flip in our catalogue. Which one your device needs and what it costs, you hear after the assessment. The fixed price per model is on your model's page; if a repair does not have a price there yet, you hear it after the assessment. When the inner screen is replaced as a module, the new film is already on it.
For which models
Choose your Galaxy Z Fold or Z Flip below. For every model in our catalogue we carry out all targeted repairs: flex cable, protective film, hinge, frame, bezel and outer screen. You book an assessment or send the device in; which repair your device needs, you will hear after the check.
Generations differ in hinge, frame and screen construction. That is why the price differs per model and the parts we fit are matched to your generation. The fixed prices are on the model page.
How it works
You book an assessment or send your device in
Choose your model, book an appointment in Antwerp or Wolvertem, or use the mail-in option. Briefly describe what you notice and when.
We assess the device
We check both screens, the film, the hinge, the frame and the connections. That tells us which part is really faulty.
You receive a proposal with a price
Only then do you hear which repair is needed and what it costs. You decide whether we go ahead.
Repair and check
After the repair we test the image, touch and opening and closing before you get your device back.
Better not to try yourself
- Do not peel a lifting film off the inner screen yourself: the layer beneath can come with it.
- Do not force a device that does not open flat any further.
- Do not press air bubbles away with force and do not use sharp objects near the fold.
- Make a backup before you bring in or send in your device.
Choose your model and book an assessment
Book the assessment in Antwerp or Wolvertem, or send the device in. The model carries over to the booking; you choose the repair only after our proposal.
Choose your model first to book an assessment or send the device in.
More about Fold and Flip
Not nearby? Send in your device
You receive a shipping label by e-mail, insured shipping is available and you only pay after the repair. Available from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg.
Frequently asked questions
Does the whole screen always need replacing on a Fold or Flip?
No, not always. Film, flex cable, hinge, frame, bezel and outer screen are replaced as separate parts, for every Fold and Flip in our catalogue. If the damage is in the image of the inner screen itself, that panel is replaced as a module. What your device needs is established after an assessment.
My Flip goes black when I open it. Is the flex cable broken?
That is a possible cause, not a diagnosis. A connector or the screen itself can also be involved. Note whether the whole device shuts off or only the image disappears, and whether the outer screen keeps working: that information helps during the assessment.
What does the assessment cost?
Diagnosis is free when we repair your device. If a repair is not possible or you choose not to proceed, the completed diagnosis costs €39.
Can I send my device in?
Yes. Choose your model and the mail-in option, pack the device well and send it to us. After the assessment we contact you with a proposal. The procedure is described on the mail-in page.
Will my device stay water resistant after a repair?
We cannot promise that. Once a foldable device has been opened, the original sealing is no longer certain. Avoid contact with water after a repair.
Will my data be kept?
Repairs to the screen, film, hinge or flex cable are not meant to erase data, but we cannot promise that data will be preserved. So make a backup beforehand.
Our stores
FIXNOW Antwerpen
Wiegstraat 13, 2000 Antwerpen
Today: 10:00–18:00
+32 469 44 22 19
FIXNOW Wolvertem
Wilgenlaan 19 bus 2, 1861 Wolvertem
Today: Closed
+32 472 29 15 53