Foldable smartphones have captured our imagination, offering a large screen when you need it and a compact form for your pocket. But with this cutting-edge design comes significant technical challenges. The latest addition to Google’s lineup, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, recently landed on iFixit’s teardown table, and the results? Let’s just say it’s a mixed bag.
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Durability Woes
Let’s start with the not-so-great news (we’ll save the positives for later). The Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn’t seem to have made substantial strides in durability compared to its predecessor, as seen in Zack Nelson’s infamous “torture test.” His tests revealed familiar weak spots, especially around the antenna lines near the hinge. In simple terms, if you’re someone who occasionally sits on your phone, you might end up with a cracked external screen. So, maybe don’t fall asleep with your foldable open next to you—it’s a recipe for disaster.
Now, speaking of that external screen, it’s crafted from Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which starts showing wear and tear at level 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. It’s not ideal, but it’s not a complete disaster either.
However, the real issue lies with the internal foldable screen. Made from “Ultra Thin Glass” (the name sounds fancy, but reality bites), it’s vulnerable to scratches starting at level 2. In short, this screen can scratch pretty easily.
A Glimmer of Hope: Repairability
But don’t lose hope just yet! iFixit didn’t only deliver bad news. In fact, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold shines when it comes to modularity and repairability. Shahram Mokhtari from iFixit even called it “the most exciting foldable” they’ve taken apart.
Wearable parts like the USB-C port and SIM tray are easily replaceable, which is a win for anyone who’s had to deal with broken charging ports. Plus, Google smartly opted for uniform 3IP screws throughout the device. It’s the small details like this that make repairing your phone just a little less of a headache.
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Better yet, the external screen and rear casing can be removed with simple prying tools, which is great news for potential repairs. Imagine being able to replace the battery in your Pixel 9 Pro Fold without needing an engineering degree!
The Drawbacks: When the Battery Fights Back
Sadly, not everything is a breeze in the world of foldables. The batteries (4.68 Wh and 13.4 Wh) are notoriously tricky to remove. The pull tabs that are supposed to make battery removal easier? Let’s just say they’re more for show than function.
And don’t even think about trying to replace the internal foldable screen yourself—that’s a whole other level of complexity.
The Verdict: Progress, But Room for Improvement
In the end, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold shows that Google is making strides when it comes to repairability, and that’s something worth celebrating. However, the fundamental durability challenges of foldable phones remain unsolved.
For the €1,800 price tag of this foldable device, you’d probably expect a bit more robustness. While it’s a step in the right direction, there’s still room for improvement in the foldable world, especially when it comes to making these futuristic devices a little tougher.