Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Suffers Catastrophic Failure in Durability Test, Battery Explodes
Recently, JerryRigEverything's Zack Nelson conducted a saltwater depth test on the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and it failed spectacularly, breaking and catching fire with the majority of the battery during the test, which causes him to rate it as "the weakest foldable I have ever seen."
Structural Weakness Remains on 3rd-Generation Foldable
According to Nelson, the new Pixel 10 Pro Fold shares the same major design flaw with its predecessors, Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the very first Pixel Fold. The open hole identified as the weak link is the antenna lines, which are close to the hinge mechanism.
During the bend test segment of the entire evaluation process, when pressure changed the natural folding direction of the device, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold cracked at this specific place. In short: Same result as Google's earlier foldable designs.
Battery Explodes After Structural Failure
Thus, the moment the frame cracked, the battery exploded, too. This was the first instance, in Nelson's ten-year run on durability testing, that a battery exploded during the bend test. He also expressed disappointment that Google has not addressed that well-known structural weakness, despite advertising a stronger frame that comes with this new foldable.
Questions on IP68 rating
The life test also disclosed some issues with the IP68 rating for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. It seems that that rating would be applicable to the part of the display, but the hinge mechanism was not dustproof. When dirt and dust got into the mechanism, it was said to make a grinding noise, which is a typical problem with foldables that do not have particular dust protection in their hinges.
The test highlights the huge gap between Google's foldable and that of the market. In comparison, the Samung Galaxy Z Fold 7 bent so much that it did the test without any failure, despite having a chassis thinner than this.
