Ever since the revised Samsung Galaxy Fold came out, durability tests have been popping up here and there. Now the insurance company SquareTrade conducted one of its own that's focused on how well the device folds and whether it can survive drops or not.
It's no mystery that the foldable phone isn't the sturdiest out there. Even Samsung itself is telling users to be extra careful with it, advising them to avoid applying "excessive pressure" when using the touch screen, for instance. Going by just that, it's unclear exactly how fragile it is, but thanks to independent tests (as opposed to the manufacturer's stress test), it's now easier to picture it.
Galaxy Fold ... Fold Test
SquareTrade uploaded its findings in the form of a video on YouTube (posted below). During the fold test, it found out that the Galaxy Fold started to have a pixel blob on its display after 18,500 folds and that the touch screen malfunctioned after 40,000 folds, which worked as normal again after it was left overnight to rest and recharge. At 120,000 folds, the pixel blob stuck around and the hinge began to deteriorate.
Samsung says that the device can be folded more than 200,000 times or about five years of use. According to that estimate, the insurance firm's 120,000 folds translate to three years' usage. Needless to say, the Galaxy Fold fell short of the South Korean brand's promise here.
Galaxy Fold Drop Test
After a drop at a height of six feet while open, the foldable phone suffered an indented screen. Its touch screen also stopped working, as well as its camera. It was then dropped at the same height while closed, and its screen and front camera broke. To sum things up, it couldn't survive any sort of drop regardless of which screen it landed on, even if it had its included case on.
The Galaxy Fold starts at $1,980, and it recently became available in the United States. At that price point, it's recommended to heed Samsung's advice about being very careful when using it.
