A curious individual subjected the Galaxy Z Fold 7 to an astounding 200,000 folds. What were the outcomes?
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The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, Samsung's latest flagship foldable smartphones, have been put to the test in a series of durability challenges. Let's take a closer look at the results.
In a livestreamed event on the Tech-it channel, a Korean YouTuber put the Galaxy Z Fold 7 through its paces by folding it 200,000 times. The test was framed as a public challenge to Samsung's claims about the toughness of the phone's hinge and folding display.
However, the Fold 7's performance fell short of Samsung's claims. After just 6,000 folds, the phone started rebooting, which equates to only 120 days of usage if opened 50 times a day. Other issues emerged as well, such as creaking noises from the hinge after about 46,000 folds, and an unknown black liquid coming out of the hinge after around 75,000 folds. This liquid did not reappear after that.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 underwent a similar durability test by Zack (JerryRigEverything) in his popular teardown/abuse test. The Flip 7 showed resilience, withstanding aggressive bend/backwards force without breaking. Its hinge mechanism even became smoother over time.
However, the Flip 7's inner folding screen still scratches easily, as demonstrated by a test using a fingernail. This is similar to the weakness seen on Fold models, where the inner screen begins to show scratches at very low hardness.
On the positive side, the Flip 7 showed better-than-expected dust resistance compared to earlier generations. It also fared well in sand/dust exposure during the test.
Samsung Display formally rated the Fold 7’s foldable panel for 500,000 folds, but the company claims the Flip 7 uses a panel with durability enhancements on par with the Fold 7, though the 500,000-fold certificate was issued for the Fold 7 panel specifically.
In conclusion, both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 appear to have robust hinge and panel designs, based on their performances in destructive YouTube testing and routine drops. However, the fragile inner layer still requires care, especially with the Fold 7, which experienced issues after just 6,000 folds. Samsung offers one free inner screen protector replacement in the first 12 months for the Flip 7.
It's important to note that the JerryRigEverything test is an informal consumer video, not a standardized lab certification. Similarly, Samsung's 500,000-fold certification applies formally to the Fold 7 panel, not the Flip 7. The durability claims and ratings should be taken with a grain of salt.
The Tech-it durability test was performed under an "actual usage environment" using human hands, providing valuable insights into the real-world durability of these flagship devices. While the results are concerning for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 appears to be a more durable option, especially when it comes to withstanding aggressive force.
Technology has shown that the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung's latest foldable smartphone, has a more resilient design compared to its counterpart, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, as it withstood greater force in durability tests without showing significant damage. However, in both models, the inner layers need to be handled with care, especially the Fold 7's inner layer, which faced issues after just 6,000 folds. Smartphones like the Z Flip 7 and gadgets tested in similar conditions offer a glimpse into their real-world durability in an "actual usage environment," providing consumers with valuable information when making their purchase decisions.
