Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Catastrophically Fails Bend Test, Ends Up a Charred Mess

[MacRumors]

With every flagship smartphone launch, the new devices are subject to bend tests, drop tests, and other durability tests. YouTuber JerryRigEverything (Zack Nelson) is known for his scratch and bend tests, and he did his usual routine with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. This time, something went wrong.

When Nelson bent the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, it broke on the first test, and the second test damaged the battery and engulfed his studio in smoke. Nelson bent the smartphone backward in a way unlikely to occur in normal use, but it's also the first time that he's had a battery rupture.

"Surprisingly, in the decade that I've been durability testing phones, I have never had a smartphone explode before," he says. "The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first phone to go up in smoke."

He goes on to explain that he's subjected every mainstream smartphone from the last decade to the exact same tests, but this is the first time he's had a failure that set off his fire alarm. At the end of the video, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a smoking, charred mess, and Nelson suggests not putting an open 10 Pro Fold in a pocket.

According to Nelson, Google's line of foldable Pixel smartphones have had the same antenna line design issue for the last three years. Every one bends at the antenna line, and this time around, the layers of the battery were pinched together, resulting in a short circuit that caused a thermal reaction.

iFixit told The Verge that while the battery fire is dramatic, it's "not necessarily a sign that something is wrong with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold design." The battery does not appear to have been discharged before the bend test, and iFixit said that short circuits can happen if you break the insulating layers of a battery. Google has not yet responded to the incident.

The Verge also points out that Google has had other battery issues this year. The company updated the Pixel 6A to address a potential battery overheating risk, and also updated the 4A to improve the stability of the battery's performance.

Article Link: Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold Catastrophically Fails Bend Test, Ends Up a Charred Mess

 

[MacUserFella]

Welcome to the internet, where one video from one guy about one thing can absolutely destroy something’s reputation

And yet, people will worry more about the iPhone 17 Pro’s ScratchGate

 

[CalMin]

Tip: Don't do that to your phone.

 

[840quadra]

I appreciate the tests with regards to my “need to know more about random stuff” brain, but at the same time, I have to question how a normal user would encounter situations like some of the tests unless they were completely clueless or careless.

 

[Naraxus]

"Nelson bent the smartphone backward in a way unlikely to occur in normal use..."

That says everything. This is nothing more than clickbait

Edit: Surprise surprise. He's good buddies with the King of Apple Angst - Louis Rossmann. I knew I'd seen this clickbaity garbage online somewhere before.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

im confused about this device. it was announced in august, but came out in october?

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

"Nelson bent the smartphone backward in a way unlikely to occur in normal use..." That says everything. This is nothing more than clickbait

Clickbait in your dreams. First test by jerry rig where the phone combusted and set off a fire alarm

The only phone ever. Before this, the only thing that made a droid device hot was if it was stolen lol

Well that and that battery catching fire issue years back, but that wasn’t just a jerry rig thing.

 

[Cameront9]

"Nelson bent the smartphone backward in a way unlikely to occur in normal use..."

That says everything. This is nothing more than clickbait

Edit: Surprise surprise. He's good buddies with the King of Apple Angst - Louis Rossmann. I knew I'd seen this clickbaity garbage online somewhere before.

JerryRigEverything has been doing his durability test for over a decade now. It's entertaining, yes, but it is also a good indication for how the phone is going to fare long-term.

 

[STOCK411]

Every time I hear about the bend tests, my mind goes to those "will it blend" videos.....

I appreciate the tests with regards to my “need to know more about random stuff” brain, but at the same time, I have to question how a normal user would encounter situations like some of the tests unless they were completely clueless or careless.

As someone in IT.... I have seen all sorts of things with how people treat their devices..... so yah..

 

[UliBaer]

Let's see how the future iPhold holds up being bent backwards...

 

[Boeingfan]

What did he expect? Try doing a reverse bend test with your knee and see what happens. A pointless video pointing out what everyone already knows; if you subject something to abuse, it will fail.

 

[STOCK411]

I once had someone bring me a laptop that looked like it was cut in half with a samurai sword.....

When asked how it happened, they said it somehow split itself in half while in their bag...

 

[Digital Dude]

Videos like this are always a bit comical to me. I’ve been carrying cell phones since they first came out and even worked for one of the early startup companies called Cellular One. Back then, it was predominantly Motorola, and those phones were built like tanks. Nothing made today even comes close. Even so, I’ve never managed to ruin a phone with sand, dust, water or bending. 🤷‍♂️

 

[STOCK411]

Videos like this are always a bit comical to me. I’ve been carrying cell phones since they first came out and even worked for one of the early startup companies called Cellular One. Back then, it was predominantly Motorola, and those phones were built like tanks. Nothing made today even comes close. Even so, I’ve never managed to ruin a phone with sand, dust, water or bending. 🤷‍♂️

Ah the good Ol brick

It offered 30 minutes of talk-time on a single charge (around 10 hours to charge!)

 

[DDustiNN]

Welcome to the internet, where one video from one guy about one thing can absolutely destroy something’s reputation

And yet, people will worry more about the iPhone 17 Pro’s ScratchGate

But to be fair, that thing bent backwards with barely any effort at all. It just sort of crumbled almost immediately. It’s truly a garbage design, and something that they haven’t fixed in years. It took Apple one release to fix the iPhone 6 bendgate.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Z Fold 7 is the polar opposite, nearly indestructible and couldn’t be bent at all.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is trash.

 

[letsGoOn2]

What did he expect? Try doing a reverse bend test with your knee and see what happens. A pointless video pointing out what everyone already knows; if you subject something to abuse, it will fail.

Yeah, and then he continues to fold it back and forth repeatedly, like he’s trying to break a piece of metal. Nevermind that the thing has a flammable battery in it. I’m glad nobody was hurt!

 

[JoeG4]

What did he expect? Try doing a reverse bend test with your knee and see what happens. A pointless video pointing out what everyone already knows; if you subject something to abuse, it will fail.

Samsung and Huawei and other companies have been making folding phones for over half a decade now. They don't normally break like that.

The folding phones are surprisingly durable. Honestly I think the folds are more durable than the iphone 17 pro line lol. I can say this since I have both a fold4 and a 17 pro max.

 

[840quadra]

Every time I hear about the bend tests, my mind goes to those "will it blend" videos.....

As someone in IT.... I have seen all sorts of things with how people treat their devices..... so yah..

Meh!

Dating myself, but been in IT since the 90s. Have not seen incidents like are tested in videos like this unless it was a catastrophic fall that resulted in injury of the user, packing in nonsensical locations on a checked bag, or a crazy drop or act of vandalism to get a “new” device from work.

I guess YMMV, and maybe my market / industry is more careful with their electronics? IDK.

 

[STOCK411]

Meh!

Dating myself, but been in IT since the 90s. Have not seen incidents like are tested in videos like this unless it was a catastrophic fall that resulted in injury of the user, packing in nonsensical locations on a checked bag, or a crazy drop or act of vandalism to get a “new” device from work.

I guess YMMV, and maybe my market / industry is more careful with their electronics? IDK.

Unfortunately lots of the Younger generation does not take care of their stuff like we used to. (See the stunts people pull for ticktok clout among other things.

And yes. Industry can be a factor.

Especially ones with strict regulations

 

[840quadra]

Samsung and Huawei and other companies have been making folding phones for over half a decade now. They don't normally break like that.

The folding phones are surprisingly durable. Honestly I think the folds are more durable than the iphone 17 pro line lol. I can say this since I have both a fold4 and a 17 pro max.

FWIW, this isn’t the first foldable from Google, far from it.

 

[captrlp]

Does Jerry (Zach) do things to phone that users would never do…yes. Does he have a disdain for Apple…yes. Does he put every device through the same “tests” and breakdowns…yes.
Did the Pixel Pro 10 Fold fail the exact same “tests” and breakdown…yes…miserably.
Doesn’t matter if a regular customer would ever do this to a device…what matters is that this device failed…miserably…where others have not.

 

[840quadra]

Unfortunately lots of the Younger generation does not take care of their stuff like we used to. (See the stunts people pull for ticktok clout among other things

Fair points.

Though we have quite a few younger staff members for the day job, and I do freelance tech support for customers in my side job (Motorsports photography) with many less than 18YO users and still don’t see events with exploding phones.

Screen shattering, extreme liquid damage, etc, sure! A 250lb Motocross bike hitting a phone does some significant damaged.

 

[warriors2017]

If it's made in China it will explode 😂

 

[Jumpthesnark]

I'm sure this video will yield a record number of views for him. Which means that when (if) the (rumored) iPhone foldable is released, he will feel obliged to see how he can destroy it and set his studio on fire even more!

 

[bozzykid]

I'm sure this video will yield a record number of views for him. Which means that when (if) the (rumored) iPhone foldable is released, he will feel obliged to see how he can destroy it and set his studio on fire even more!

He does the same tests to all foldable phones. Only the Google one had the battery blow up. It isn't likely to happen to another phone.