YouTube Durability Test Doesn’t Bode Well for Google’s Newest Foldable

While they’re not new on the market, foldables have been pretty divisive, and depending on who you’re talking too, they’re either a new and innovative approach to modern smartphones, or a liability in terms of overall durability and longevity. In the case of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, it looks like Google’s new foldable might have an issue when it comes to its structural integrity.

This is based on the results of a YouTube durability test carried out by Zack Nelson, who hosts the JerryRig Everything channel, known for carrying all sorts of damage tests on different smartphones. As with the rest of his videos, Nelson tested several elements of the 9 Pro Fold’s design including scratch and dust resistance, the latter of which proved to be an issue as the foldable’s design doesn’t do much to protect if from debris which might get caught in-between its folding mechanism.

The most damage came from the bend test, in which the Pixel 9 Pro Fold was bended beyond its usual range of motion. The device did snap in half unfortunately, although not at the hinge – the damage occurred along the antenna lines of the phone, while the hinge itself remained intact.

Of course it’s important to note that a lot of these tests are lab-based, and real-life usage will still vary from user to user, with different environmental situations and scenarios in play. Nevertheless though, it’s a good reminder to keep an extra eye on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and invest in some additional protection for it.