Samsung’s latest foldable, the Galaxy Fold 6, is encountering an unusual problem. For some users, the phone’s paint is chipping off weeks or even just days after purchase.
Several users have reported this problem on Reddit. One user, who claims to have bought the device on release day, says that the paint began peeling within 24 hours. It’s only recently they shared the issue on the forum, though.
The images shared by the user show the paint chipping off of various areas of the Fold 6’s frame. Another user in the same subreddit reported a similar issue.
In response, Samsung issued a statement on its support page in various regions, attributing the problem to “high-speed third-party chargers that are not properly grounded.”
These chargers, according to the brand, may cause a “leakage current” that can affect the phone’s anodized finish and lead to paint delamination.
Interestingly, Samsung mentions EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) massagers powered by mobile devices could also cause the paint to peel off for the same “leakage current” issue. It appears that the problem may be linked to how the phone manages certain types of power flow.
Unsurprisingly, the company was quick to recommend its proprietary chargers. But also notes that high-quality third-party chargers from reputable companies should not cause the problem.
Samsung, however, strangely emphasized that these third-party chargers should adhere to the Qi standard—a wireless charging standard that has no relevance to wired charging.
This is certainly a peculiar issue, one we haven’t seen with previous Galaxy Z Folds or any other brand’s foldables. If you own a Fold 6, or even a Flip 6, we suggest using the official charger to avoid becoming another victim of this problem.
