Here's proof the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 can take a beating

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The Galaxy Z Fold 3 holds up well to scratches, dirt and bending

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
(Image credit: JerryRigEverything)

When you buy an $1,800 smartphone, you want it to last. Fortunately for those who purchased the Samsung Galaxy Fold 3, the phone looks like it can take a bit of a beating — more than its predecessors, at least. 

YouTuber JerryRigEverything took a knife, keys, and dirt to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to see how it would hold up to everyday abuse, and came away pleasantly surprised. 

The Fold 3's exterior screen, which is made of Gorilla Glass Victus, is rated a 6 on the Moh hardness scale, which JerryRigEverything found to be accurate. The plastic screen on the inside, though, is far less durable, and was scratched much more easily — a mere level 2.

Even a fingernail was able to leave marks on the surface, though to be fair, Samsung does warn against using your fingernail on the Z Fold 3's inside screen. However, the interior display did manage to last twice as long on the burn test, should you ever take a lighter to your phone.

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While Samsung touted the "armor aluminum" chassis of the Z Fold 3, JerryRigEverything found that its finish scratched as easily as most other phones on the market. (Watch the video to hear the excruciating sound of a razor blade being dragged across metal.)

The fingerprint sensor also appeared to function normally even after being scratched repeatedly with a razor.

The Z Fold 3 is IPX8 water resistant - which means it can survive some splashes — and it's fairly dust-resistant, too. After pouring a handful of dust, rocks, and dirt onto the middle of the interior screen then folding the phone several times, JerryRigEverything found that the mechanism still worked well. 

Like the Galaxy Fold 2, the Galaxy Fold 3 survived the "bend test," where he tries to bend the phone backwards while it's open. Despite a couple of attempts, there was little to no damage.

So, while it's not indestructible, it looks like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 should at least survive everyday wear and tear — and then some.

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Mike Prospero
Mike Prospero
U.S. Editor-in-Chief, Tom's Guide

Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.