Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold: A Flaming Failure in the Bend Test

During a recent durability test conducted by YouTuber JerryRigEverything, also known as Zack Nelson, the brand new Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold encountered a battery issue. As Nelson subjected the foldable phone to his usual rigorous tests, the battery unexpectedly expanded, overheated, emitted smoke, triggered a nearby fire alarm, and ended up charred on the testing table.

It is worth noting that Nelson exerted an extraordinary amount of stress on the phone during the test. The battery swelling occurred after he forcefully bent the broken part of the phone, essentially folding the screen behind itself. This scenario is not something a typical user would encounter in their daily usage.

Even in extreme circumstances, Nelson found the battery mishap to be unusual. He mentioned that in his decade-long experience of testing phone durability, he had never encountered a smartphone exploding before. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold was the first phone to exhibit such a dramatic failure during his tests.

According to iFixit’s Elizabeth Chamberlain, the battery fire incident may not necessarily indicate a flaw in the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s design. Chamberlain explained that thermal runaway is a potential risk with Li-ion batteries, especially when subjected to extreme stress without proper battery discharge. She emphasized the importance of handling batteries with care to prevent such incidents.

Chamberlain further elaborated that thermal runaway, which can lead to a battery fire, is more likely to occur when the insulating layers of a battery are compromised. She referred to resources from iFixit discussing battery safety measures to avoid such mishaps.

In addition to the battery incident, Nelson also tested the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s IP68 dust resistance. Despite Google touting the phone as its “most durable foldable yet” with a gearless hinge, Nelson found that pouring dust onto the hinge resulted in crunching sounds as dust particles entered the mechanism. This test highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the phone’s dust resistance capabilities.