Apple iPhone Duo durability test shows that bending it the wrong way isn't the only thing to worry about

Most current Samsung foldables survive Zack Nelsons admittedly rather brutal durability tests with the notable exception of Google's Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Even bending them against the folding direction does not necessarily turn them into expensive electronic waste and today's foldables can also handle the elements better than they could in the early days of 2019 and 2020. 

Apple has certainly learned a lot from its Android competitors' mistakes, so the first iPhone Duo does not start entirely from scratch. Nevertheless, you should not expect miracles—a foldable is inherently less robust than a conventional slab phone, not only because of its moving internal parts. Even the IP68 rating, which Apple advertises as protection against dust and water ingress, needs to be interpreted somewhat differently here.

Hinge not protected against dirt

Zack Nelson's dirt attack during the durability test makes this quite clear. After an admittedly very intensive bath in sand, dirt, and soil, Apple's most expensive iPhone ever will no longer close completely, even the built-in magnets won`t help at this pont. Such extensive exposure to dirt probably isn`t an everyday occurrence in real life, but the test shows that Apple's hinge can be a weak point in everyday use, for example at the beach.

Bend test leads to display failure

While the internal flexible display, with its much-discussed nano-texture cover can hide scratches better than competitors without the matte plastic layer, it apparently can still be destroyed quite easily under extreme stress, as the bend test ultimately shows. The iPhone Duo does not snap when you bend it against the folding direction, whether intentionally or accidentally, but the AMOLED panel could sustain permanent damage that would require expensive (US$1,000) repairs. You can watch the full video with all of JerryRigEverything`s findings here:
 

Editor of the original article: Alexander Fagot - Managing Editor News - 11982 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2016

As a young tech enthusiast with a history involving assembling and overclocking projects, I ended up working as a projectionist with good old 35-mm films before I entered the computer world at a professional level. I assisted customers at an Austrian IT service provider called Iphos IT Solutions for seven years, working as a Windows client and server administrator as well as a project manager. As a freelancer who travels a lot, I have been able to write for Notebookcheck from all corners of the world since 2016. My articles cover brand-new mobile technologies in smartphones, laptops, and gadgets of all kinds.