- JerryRigEverything put the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 through a durability test.
- The hinge is much better against dirt than the original fold.
- However, the display is more fragile than ever.
If you want to demonstrate how Samsung’s foldable phone technology has advanced, look no further. JerryRigEverything (aka Zack Nelson) put the Galaxy Z Fold 2 through a durability test, and it’s obvious that the hinge is far more reliable than the original Fold – although this doesn’t apply to the inner display.
In contrast to the first fold, which quickly succumbed to dirt, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has an elastic hinge that works perfectly even after being covered with soil. Nelson chalked this down to bristles (already seen on the Galaxy Z Flip) that keep the hinge free. You might not want to be reckless, but you can probably keep the phone in your pocket without worrying about dust ruining your $ 2,000 gem.
It’s also particularly strong. Nelson was unable to snap the hinge into place despite his best efforts to bend the phone backwards.
Continue reading: The best foldable phones you can get
The durability test wasn’t good for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 inner display, however. It’s still easy to scratch the screen, even with a fingernail. You should probably leave the protector on as it may be your only defense against an expensive replacement. While this doesn’t guarantee you’ll damage the display, it does want to be gentle. The outer display (which uses Gorilla Glass Victus) is as scratch-resistant as what you’ll find on many other modern cell phones, at least.
Nelson added that the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button was “picky” in top shape and quickly became unreliable after a few scratches.
The test suggests that Samsung has made great strides in durability with the Galaxy Z Fold 2, but is still reaching the limits of foldable displays. This remains a device for early adopters – it’s just that Samsung is getting significantly closer to introducing foldables into the mainstream.