The highly anticipated Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has made headlines for all the wrong reasons after a shocking outcome during an extreme durability test left tech fans questioning Google’s promises of improved build quality. 
Just a week after its release, the new foldable flagship faced YouTuber Zack Nelson’s infamous JerryRigEverything stress test – and things didn’t go as Google hoped.
Nelson’s tests are known for pushing smartphones to their absolute limits, including scratching, burning, and bending. While the Pixel 10 Pro Fold managed to survive the early trials with its hinge remaining surprisingly firm, disaster struck during the bend test. The device split cleanly along the antenna lines, a weak point that had already been identified in last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold. But this time, the situation escalated dramatically: the phone’s battery exploded, releasing a thick plume of smoke mid-test – a first in the YouTuber’s long history of breaking gadgets.
Fortunately, the explosion didn’t lead to a fire, but the incident raises serious concerns about battery placement and thermal safety in foldable designs. Experts note that while such outcomes are nearly impossible under normal use, the event highlights how fragile current foldable technology still is. Consumers paying nearly $1,800 for a device might rightfully expect sturdier engineering.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is available in multiple configurations, starting at $1,799 in the US and around €1,899 in Europe for the 256GB model. Despite its premium price tag, this incident reminds users that luxury doesn’t always mean durability – especially when innovation still dances on the edge of fragility.