Folding Pixel 9 Pro Fails to Impress: Bend Test Results Reveal Lack of Progress
Pixel 9 Pro Fold Durability Test: A Closer Look at the Hinge and Beyond
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has been put to the test, and the results are in. In a recent durability and bend test, the phone’s hinge was subjected to some serious scrutiny. But how did it fare?
Scratching the Surface
The phone’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover screen, also known as Actua, proved to be quite fragile. It scratched at a level six with deeper grooves at a level seven, while the Ultra Thin Glass inner display, or Super Actua, scratched at a level two. Even fingernails were able to cause damage to the screen.
The Hinge: A Weak Point?
The exterior of the phone is made of an aerospace-grade high-strength aluminum alloy, including the surface of the hinge. The actual internals of the hinge are multi-alloy steel. However, when exposed to dirt and sand, the hinge started grinding due to the lack of dust protection (IPX8).
Bend Test Results
A closed bend test revealed no issues with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but problems arose when it was open and bent from the back. The left and right back panels met and covered the spine of the hinge, but there didn’t appear to be much resistance.
The Issue with Antenna Lines
The case’s antenna lines next to the hinge, which caused issues last year, were again a problem. In this bend test, it was the pair on the cover screen side that popped off from the case rather than breaking. The hinge itself, like on the original, survived.
Comparison to Samsung’s Z Fold 6
In comparison, Samsung’s Z Fold 6 survived a similar test, with the two halves locking out and not catastrophically bending.
Teardown and Thermal Dissipation
The video proceeds into a teardown, with iFixit also performing one yesterday. Underneath the cover screen is the larger battery, while the other half has the smaller cell and the motherboard around it. The USB-C is on its own board for easier repair.
We also see the vapor chamber underneath the battery and Tensor G4, with an interesting observation from Zach: "Most of the thermal heat dissipation happens from the backside, or internal side of the device when the screen is closed, flowing from the processor to the large vapor chamber and then into the center of the Fold, which is an interesting move since the center of the phone has that plastic folding screen which I don’t think would be super great for letting heat out…"
Conclusion
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s hinge has been put to the test, and while it’s not the weakest part of the phone, it’s still a concern. The phone’s durability and bend test results are a mixed bag, with some areas performing better than others.
