The Explosion That Never Happened Before
YouTube’s most trusted phone tester had never seen anything like it in over a decade of testing how long smartphones last. When Zack Nelson, the face behind JerryRigEverything, tested Google’s newest foldable phone, it went from being cutting edge technology to a smoking, charred mess on his table. Launched with big claims of being “extremely durable,” the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold was the first smartphone in Nelson’s ten-year testing career to blow up during a durability test. “”
Surprisingly, in the ten years I’ve been testing how long phones last, I’ve never seen a smartphone blow up. As Nelson spoke, his fire alarm went off in the background. “The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first phone to go up in smoke.” This has never happened before and has shocked the tech community. It has made people seriously question Google’s approach to engineering foldable phones and the design flaws that have been present in all three generations of Pixel Fold devices.
How to Understand the Pixel 10 Pro Fold Key Features and Claims
Google sold the Pixel 10 Pro Fold as a revolutionary device that would finally fix the problems with durability that plagued earlier Pixel phones. During the launch of the device, the company made a lot of big claims, mainly about how much better it was built and how it had features that were first in the industry.
On paper, the device has great specs: a 3nm Google Tensor G5 processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a big 5,015mAh battery that Google says can last for more than 30 hours of use. The foldable has two screens: a 6.4-inch OLED cover screen and a large 8-inch Super Actua Flex inner screen. Both screens can support 120Hz refresh rates and reach a maximum brightness level of 3,000 nits.
Google said that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold was the first foldable smartphone to get an IP68 rating, which means it is resistant to both dust and water. It is thought that this certification makes the device “dustproof” according to industry standards, where “6” means the best dust protection. Both the front and back panels of the device are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. “”
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold costs ₹1,72,999 in India and $1,799 in the US. It is marketed as a high-end alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which starts at the same price.
Breaking Down the Durability Test
Standard Tests vs. Catastrophic Failure
Nelson’s durability assessment began routinely enough, following the same methodical approach he’s applied to hundreds of smartphones over the past decade. The scratch test revealed predictable results: the outer Gorilla Glass Victus 2 display showed scratches at level 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, with deeper grooves appearing at level 7. The inner folding display, constructed from flexible plastic like all current foldables, demonstrated the expected vulnerability to fingernail scratches at level 2.
However, the cracks in Google’s durability narrative began to show during the dust resistance test. Despite the company’s IP68 claims and Nelson’s acknowledgment that “the screen is probably dust proof,” the hinge told a different story. When fine particles were introduced to the folding mechanism, disturbing crunching sounds emerged as dust infiltrated the supposedly sealed hinge assembly. “This is kind of embarrassing,” Nelson observed, noting that Google should have anticipated this test given his decade-long track record of challenging manufacturer claims.
Different things happened in the heat test. The outside display was near a flame for about 25 seconds without any damage being seen. However, the inside screen lost all of its pixels after only 15 seconds. These results are about average for foldable devices, but the fact that the inner display broke down so quickly showed how vulnerable flexible screen technology is.
When Everything Went Wrong
Nelson’s famous durability test, the bend test, showed the fatal flaw that has been in all three generations of Google’s foldable phones. Nelson put pressure on the phone in the opposite direction of its natural fold, and as expected, it broke along the antenna lines next to the hinge. This is the exact same weak spot that destroyed the original Pixel Fold and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The fact that they called the Pixel 10 Fold “extremely durable” at the launch event without changing where the antenna lines were placed from the two previous models that failed horribly is an insult to all tech fans, Nelson said, his anger clear. He said this failure was “entirely predictable from 730 days ago,” referring to the same structural flaw in the first Pixel Fold.
But what came next turned a failure in durability that was expected into a safety incident that had never happened before. Nelson tried to fix the broken device so that it could be tested again, but the broken chassis pushed the battery layers inside together. This compression caused a short circuit inside the lithium-ion battery, which started thermal runaway, an uncontrolled chemical reaction that quickly got out of hand.
The battery swelled, began emitting thick smoke, and ultimately caught fire, creating enough heat and fumes to trigger Nelson’s studio fire alarm. “This is by far the weakest folding smartphone I’ve ever tested. And it gets worse,” Nelson remarked as the situation deteriorated. The incident left the Pixel 10 Pro Fold as little more than charred remains, with visible damage to the battery’s internal foil layers.
Technical Analysis: Why It Happened
The Antenna Line Weakness
The root cause of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s catastrophic failure lies in a fundamental design flaw that Google has inexplicably perpetuated across three device generations. The antenna lines positioned adjacent to the hinge create unavoidable stress concentration points that compromise the device’s structural integrity.
When subjected to reverse bending forces, these antenna gaps act as predetermined breaking points where the phone’s chassis cannot distribute mechanical stress effectively. The thin aluminum frame lacks sufficient material in these critical areas to resist the substantial forces generated during extreme flexing. This design choice prioritizes radio frequency transmission over mechanical robustness, creating a vulnerability that becomes catastrophic under stress
Nelson’s research showed that the “Death Star exhaust port” is caused by the way the antenna lines are placed. This is a known weakness that hasn’t been fixed despite many failures. Engineers may have missed something or didn’t want to give up radio performance for structural integrity because this part of the design has been used in more than one generation.
How to Understand Thermal Runaway in Batteries
There is a well-known but dangerous process called thermal runaway that led to the battery explosion that shocked Nelson and people all over the world. “Heat runaway is basically a local short circuit,” says Liz Chamberlain of iFixit. If you break through the battery’s protective layers, it’s likely to happen.
Lithium-ion batteries are made by wrapping long pieces of metal foil around each other. The electrodes are carefully set apart so that they don’t touch each other. These thin layers inside the Pixel 10 Pro Fold were pushed together when the chassis broke along the antenna line. They touched, which caused an electrical short circuit.
Thermal runaway starts a reaction that speeds up on its own after it starts. A positive feedback loop has a short circuit that makes heat. This heat speeds up the chemical reaction and makes even more heat. A battery can quickly reach over 600°C when this process is done. This turns the electrolyte into vapor and lets out gases that can catch fire. There is no stopping the reaction until all the energy it has stored is released. This usually happens in the form of an explosion or fire.
Chamberlain said the risk goes up a lot when batteries aren’t drained below 25% before stress testing. This is because most new phones come with batteries that are charged to at least 60%. In Nelson’s test, the perfect conditions for thermal runaway were a high charge state and mechanical damage.
What This Means for Buyers
The explosion of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold makes people worry about how durable and safe it will be in real life, but experts stress that extreme situations like this are very unlikely to happen in normal use. The accident happened when the device was purposely bent backwards at a force that is much higher than normal handling forces, and then it was used again after it was already damaged.
The persistent antenna line weakness, on the other hand, makes everyday situations riskier. Nelson specifically told people not to put an unfolded Pixel 10 Pro Fold in their back pockets, because the weight of the phone could cause the same kind of structural failures. The device is more likely to break under pressure than lighter options because it weighs 258 grams and is 10.8 mm thick when closed. “”
For people who are thinking about buying the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the explosion shows how important it is to be careful and use protective cases. The IP68 rating protects against water and dust getting in, but the structural weaknesses mean that users need to be careful about how they use the product so that it doesn’t fail completely. “”
The event also shows how much less developed foldable technology is compared to regular smartphones. Even high-end phones like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold come with risks that aren’t present in regular phones. This makes them less suitable for people who have busy lives or who often drop their phones.
What experts say and how the business world reacts
After the explosion, experts in the field have been calm and pointed out how bad the failure was and how little it can be used in real life. Liz Chamberlain from iFixit said that battery fires are scary, but they don’t always mean that the design is very bad. When lithium-ion technology is put under a lot of mechanical stress, she said, there is still a chance that it will overheat. It’s
But the antenna line weakness has been there for three generations of devices, which has made people who study durability and talk about technology unhappy. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that JerryRigEverything’s tests are pretty extreme, but “not nearly extreme enough where this phone should explode.” He thinks that the battery explosion shows that there may have been problems with the design or production, even though the tests were very hard. It’s
Even more important is how the event compares to what other companies did. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner and lighter than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but it passed all of the same tests for durability without any damage. With the technology we have now, the comparison shows that strong foldable design is possible. We can’t figure out why Google keeps failing with this. It’s
Even though Google hasn’t said anything official about the explosion yet, the company has fixed battery issues in other Pixel devices until 2025. People are still not sure about Google’s power management systems, even though the most recent updates to the Pixel 6A and 4A were meant to fix problems with performance stability and battery overheating. It’s
Since what happened, there is more talk about safety standards and ways to test foldable phones. In the business world, some people want stricter certification rules that take into account the unique mechanical stresses that foldable devices have to handle.
Real-World Usage Scenarios
Despite the dramatic nature of the explosion, most Pixel 10 Pro Fold users are unlikely to encounter similar conditions during normal usage. The incident required extreme reverse bending followed by continued manipulation of the damaged device – scenarios that rarely occur outside deliberate stress testing.
However, the underlying structural weakness creates potential risks in specific real-world situations:
- Backpack pressure: Heavy books or laptops could create sufficient force to stress the antenna line area
- Accidental drops: Impact damage could potentially compromise the hinge area’s structural integrity
- Temperature extremes: Combined thermal and mechanical stress could lower the threshold for structural failure
- Long-term wear: Repeated folding cycles may gradually weaken the already vulnerable antenna line areas
Users can minimize risks by using protective cases designed for foldables, avoiding placement in tight pockets when unfolded, and being mindful of pressure points during handling
Questions People Ask Often
Is it safe to use the Pixel 10 Pro Fold every day?
When used normally, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn’t pose many safety risks. Extreme testing conditions that are higher than normal handling forces led to the explosion. Users should be careful when placing and handling, though, because the structure is known to be weak.
How does this foldable phone stack up against others?
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s failure stands in stark contrast to how well other phones have done. Even though it was thinner and lighter, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 passed the same tests without any damage to the structure.
Should I not go through with my Pixel 10 Pro Fold order?
Think about how you use things and how much risk you are willing to take. If you often put your phone in your back pocket, work in a tough environment, or are worried about how long your device will last, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 might be a better choice.
Will Google make this right?
Google hasn’t said what it plans to do about the antenna line weakness. Since this flaw has been present in three generations of devices, structural improvements might need a complete redesign instead of small updates. “”
What do I do if something breaks my Pixel 10 Pro Fold?
Stop using your device right away and contact Google support if it looks like it has structural damage, especially near the hinge. Due to possible battery safety risks, do not try to charge or use a broken device.
In conclusion
The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold explosion is more than just a shocking failure in a durability test. It’s a sign of a larger pattern of engineers being lazy with Google’s approach to foldable design. Even though the company had three chances to fix known structural flaws, it chose to keep the antenna line weakness that killed its predecessors. “”
Even though the explosion happened in very bad testing conditions that probably wouldn’t happen in real life, it does raise valid concerns about the safety and development of foldable phones. The fact that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 passed the same tests shows that strong foldable design is possible. This makes Google’s repeated failures harder to explain.
For people who are thinking about getting the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the choice comes down to their own priorities and how they usually use their phones. Even though it has some structural problems, the device may appeal to people who want cutting-edge AI features, stock Android experiences, and impressive display technology. But people who care about durability and long-term dependability should carefully think about other options, such as Samsung’s tried-and-true Galaxy Z Fold 7.
The explosion should be a wake-up call for the whole foldable industry, showing that new form factors shouldn’t lower basic standards for safety and durability. At least until Google fixes the antenna line weakness, the Pixel Fold series will serve as a warning about how engineering shortcuts can ruin otherwise impressive technological advances.
