Pixel 10 Pro Fold Catches Fire During Durability Test; Raises Questions Over Google’s Design Choices

Google’s latest flagship foldable, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, has come under scrutiny after it caught fire during a bend test carried out by popular YouTuber JerryRigsEverything.

The incident occurred just days after Google proudly announced the device as one of the most durable foldables ever made, and the first to come with IP68 water and dust resistance.

The durability test video, which quickly went viral, shows the phone snapping near one of its antenna lines, causing a short circuit that led to an unexpected thermal reaction.

Within moments, the device erupted in smoke, setting off fire alarms in the studio.

Zack Nelson, the creator behind JerryRigsEverything, said it was the first time in over ten years that one of his tested devices had caught fire in such a dramatic fashion.

He attributed the incident to a design flaw involving the antenna placement, which remains unchanged from earlier Pixel Fold models.

“The antenna lines are in the exact same spot as the Pixel Fold and Pixel 9 Pro Fold,” he said. “It’s a known weak point that Google chose to ignore.”

Nelson went on to label the Pixel 10 Pro Fold as the ‘weakest folding phone’ he has ever tested, sharply criticising Google’s bold marketing claims around durability.

“Calling this phone durable is an insult to tech enthusiasts everywhere,” he added.

Google’s Silence and Expert Reactions

Google has yet to respond to the viral video, but experts have offered a more balanced view. iFixit’s Elizabeth Chamberlain, in a comment to The Verge, pointed out that the dramatic battery failure may not be indicative of a widespread issue.

“We usually recommend discharging a battery below 25 per cent before opening or stress-testing a device,” she said. “It’s likely that the phone was still charged to over 60 per cent out of the box, which could have contributed to the violent reaction.”

Despite Google’s improvements in water and dust resistance, the unchanged internal layout, particularly the positioning of sensitive components like antenna lines and the battery, may pose a risk in real-world durability.

This incident highlights a growing concern that manufacturers may be prioritising features over structural integrity in the race to dominate the foldable market.

While durability tests are extreme by design, they serve as a crucial check against marketing claims.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s fiery failure underscores the need for better internal design and safer engineering, especially in devices that promise to combine innovation with resilience.

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