Pixel 10 Pro Fold: The New Foldable from Google Catches Fire During an Extreme Durability Test
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, touted by Google as “the most durable foldable ever created,” recently underwent a particularly explosive trial.
In his latest video, Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything) subjected the new Pixel 10 Pro Fold to his well-known durability test, and the outcome was shocking: after a few twists, the phone literally caught fire.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold: The First Smartphone to “Explode” in a Decade of Testing
Zack Nelson has been testing smartphone durability for over ten years. He bends, scratches, and heats them — essentially putting them through hell. However, as he stated: “In ten years of testing, I have never seen a smartphone explode. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first to go up in smoke.”
The testing begins “normally”: the YouTuber bends the Pixel 10 Pro Fold by hand with the screen unfolded. The chassis gives way suddenly along an antenna line — the same weakness previously noted in earlier models.
As he continues to stress the fracture, the internal battery begins to swell, heats up, releases thick smoke, sets off the smoke detector, and ultimately ends up charred on the table.
This is Not (Just) Bad Luck
To be clear: no one uses their smartphone the way JerryRigEverything does. However, this test highlights a more concerning reality: the recurring structural fragility of Google’s foldable design.
The YouTuber notes that both the Pixel Fold and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold already suffered from the same antenna weakness. “It’s like Google is building a third Death Star… with the same fatal flaw.” This area is where the casing is the thinnest and most susceptible to mechanical stress — and on a foldable device, even the slightest weakness can lead to a major short circuit.
What Experts Are Saying
According to Elizabeth Chamberlain, an engineer at iFixit, the incident is likely explained by an internal short circuit, a phenomenon known as thermal runaway: “Zack likely bent the battery while it was not fully discharged. Most smartphones come out of the box with over 60% charge, and a lithium-ion battery can ignite if its insulating layers are pierced.”
In essence, the fire is not necessarily a design flaw in itself, but rather a consequence of how the battery was compromised. Nonetheless, the explosion serves as a warning — especially for a phone marketed as having “exceptional robustness.”
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold Fails the Dust Test as Well
Before the fire incident, Nelson also tested the dust resistance of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Once again, the results were not impressive: despite its IP68 certification, fine particles infiltrated the hinge, causing concerning creaking sounds. “It’s a bit embarrassing for a product marketed as ‘dustproof,’” Nelson quips.
Samsung, on the other hand, does not claim dust certification for the Galaxy Z Fold 7… but its hinge mechanism passed the same test without issue.
A Warning, Not a Condemnation
To be fair: the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is not going to spontaneously explode in your hands. However, this test serves as a reminder that Google has yet to address some structural weaknesses. And in the world of foldables, the margin for error is minimal.
In terms of brand image, this incident is particularly damaging for a product meant to compete with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or the OnePlus Open 2. When an €1,800 phone ends up on fire on YouTube, it’s difficult to defend the slogan “the most durable foldable in the world.”
The issue is not the test itself, but the symbolism behind it. Google wants to impose its vision of a “premium” foldable, but facts indicate that the brand does not yet possess Samsung’s mechanical expertise.
On paper, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has everything to appeal, but against better-established competitors, Google now needs to reassess the reliability of its design before making claims about durability.
