The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is much tougher than its predecessors

When Samsung introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 3, its best durability was highlighted. It’s too, too early to know how the Z Fold 3 will hold up over time, but in a series of breaking tests, it seems that Samsung’s durability claims aren’t just spongy marketing.

Allstate Protection Plans (formerly SquareTrade) is famous for its drop tests and its FoldBot. While we don’t yet know the final results of the FoldBot, Allstate said it “proved to be extremely strong” and that there was little doubt it would last 200,000 folds. He Z Fold 3 didhowever, make serious strides in two drop tests and a dip in the pool.

As a soda, with the Z Fold 3, Samsung said it created a tougher frame with a material that doubles Armor Aluminum and Gorilla Glass Victus. It also has an IPX8 rating, making it Samsung’s first folding offering any kind of water resistance. The main screen also has an additional panel layer and better protective film, which according to Samsung makes the screen of the Z Fold 3 80% stronger than the Z Fold 2.

These are pretty big claims, but the results of the Allstate breakout tests are encouraging. You can see the video for yourselves, but the DropBot dropped the $ 1,800 six-foot Z Fold 3 into concrete. In the two drops where the phone was fully open, the screen did not break, the first for any smartphone. It has only received minor pixel damage and scratches. However, it didn’t turn out so well when the phone was turned off. In this test, the screen was broken with pieces of glass coming off. As for water resistance, the phone survived a 5-foot pool in the pool for 30 minutes, which is exactly what its IPX8 rating promised.

Samsung has made significant progress in the durability of folding phones since it first introduced the Galaxy Fold in 2019. ”The Galaxy Z Fold3 is one of the toughest and most durable phones we’ve ever tested and its inner screen is the first to not run out or break in our crash test, ”said Jason Siciliano, vice president of marketing and creative director of ‘Allstate Protection Plan said in a statement.

This is an encouraging sign that Samsung’s latest folding flagship should be able to better withstand the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, these tests are not exactly a 1: 1 mirror of how people actually handle their phones. (I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t climb 6 feet on a ladder and just … drop the phone upside down.) We also won’t know what kind of issues may arise after months of long-term use. For example, when we tested the Z Fold 2, we found that the screen was converting increasingly susceptible to small air bubbles for several months of daily use.

Also, the improved durability does not mean that these phones are indestructible. The phone doesn’t just cost $ 1,800 to buy, but it also costs $ 479 to repair the main screen and $ 149 to repair the exterior screen. Therefore, if you are prone to accidents, you may want to invest in a case.