The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has been put through the internet's most well-known durability breakdowns and has failed miserably. With that comes a new question: Should durability be a major factor when it comes to foldable phones?
While the 10 Pro Fold might look very different from its predecessors, there's at least one design point that hasn't changed. As was revealed in the video by JerryRigEverything, Google has left the weaker antenna lines in the same spot as it had on the Google Pixel Fold and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
These lines were a known structural weakness in the other two devices and, unfortunately, not much has changed. When bent, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold snapped in the same place as it had with the prior two phones. This result was bad enough, but as a bonus, the break also pinched the battery, leading to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold being the first phone to go up in smoke in the channel's history.
This wasn't the only major durability concern noted in the video, as it also raises some questions that Google will need to answer. Google's latest foldable is the first phone with an IP68 rating — beating the resistance of the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The reason for this claim has to do with the redesign of the hinge, which does away with gears and instead uses a system of CAMs. This design should result in fewer gaps for dust to fit into and a lower chance of damage occurring.
However, after pouring dust on the phone, the hinge continued to make a grating noise when opening and closing. This indicates that dust has still managed to find a gap where there shouldn't be any.
While the results are concerning, do they really matter?
Having yet another Google phone snap, in the same place no less, is a problem without a doubt. However, there is an argument that you would never buy a foldable phone for its durability; instead, the focus should be on the features and its cameras.
For instance, while the inner screen may not be particularly durable, it is remarkably bright. In our tests, we managed to have the phone reach a peak of 2,566 nits, higher than the 2,245 nits seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Considering the benefit of a foldable phone is an enhanced viewing experience, this is a major win.
It's not just the screen, as the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold features a 48MP wide-angle camera, a 10.5MP ultra wide camera and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. While this might not be as impressive as the 200MP main camera seen on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it is no slouch when it comes to taking photos.
The real difference was noted when we took images outside at night where, as you can see below, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offered a much higher quality image.
However, where the Pixel 10 Pro Fold really shines is in it's zoom performance, especially the 5x zoom. If you look at the image comparison below, you can make out much more detail than you can with the Z Fold 7's 3x zoom.
The real selling point for Google’s phones are the wealth of AI features, all of which are powered by the Tensor series chips. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold comes with Google Gemini installed, as well as features like Magic Cue, which is great when it works. While it does share many of the same AI features as Samsung’s phone, it is also around $200 cheaper.
I'm not saying that Google's durability shouldn't be a factor, but rather that it isn't the biggest one when purchasing a phone like this. Yes, the dust getting into the hinge is a real problem, but you have to ask yourself how likely it is that your phone will be in that kind of environment.
Meanwhile, the snapping problem is a major one, although it could be mitigated by buying a durable case. So, the question then is whether the features, display and cameras are worth the risk or not.
Let us know if these results have removed any interest you have in the phone, or if you are still tempted to pick one up and why.
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