what you should Know
- The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is put to the test in a new video by JerryRigEverything.
- Samsung’s latest foldable phone withstands an avalanche of dust and deliberate bending.
- However, the Fold 4’s display doesn’t appear to be any more durable than its predecessor, despite Samsung’s claims to the contrary.
Given that Samsung reduced the hinge and narrowed the frame on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 compared to its predecessor, you might think it’s less durable than the Z Fold 3. A new durability test by JerryRigEverything demonstrates just the opposite.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 proved its mettle in the face of Zach Nelson’s rigorous testing regime. As usual, the routine includes the scratch, fire and bend tests that one of Samsung’s best foldable phones withstands.
Like the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the latest foldable device survived concerted bending while open thanks to its sturdy hinge. Nelson’s attempt to break the phone in half by bending it from the back was futile, unlike OnePlus’ flagship phones.
The test was made extra special from regular torture tests when Nelson threw powder into the mix. The Fold 4 managed to remain functional despite an avalanche of dust and dirt, which is nothing short of remarkable considering it doesn’t have a dust protection rating. Despite being littered with sand and pebbles, the hinge still flexes smoothly and quietly, and the side-mounted fingerprint scanner works.
In the scratch test, the outer roof screen withstood Nelson’s razor blade, with scratches starting to show at level 6 on the Mohs scale, with deeper grooves at level 7. This was the same narrative as the Fold 3, which includes protection from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. That means the Plus version of the Fold 4 doesn’t do much to protect the screen.
While the external display is scratch-resistant, the same is not true of the internal screen, which suffers from level 2 scratches. This is not surprising given that Gorilla Glass is inherently more durable than the UTG used in the internal display of the phone.
The Fold 3 durability test gave the same results last year, indicating that the Fold 4 is no more durable than its predecessor. When announcing the latest foldable model, Samsung claimed the Fold 4’s main screen was 45% stronger than the previous model, although Nelson’s video doesn’t seem to back up that claim.
That said, Samsung has made significant progress in addressing the durability issues of the original Galaxy Z Fold in 2019, with the third iteration of the foldable phone boasting a super-rugged build. Samsung says this year’s version of the foldable line is no different, despite minor design changes.
Samsung’s latest foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, features an improved design, improved cameras and a faster chipset. Users can take advantage of the indoor and outdoor displays in different ways thanks to the foldable design.