The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is being marketed as the world’s thinnest and most durable foldable smartphone by Google in some regions, featuring a drastically different design than the first-generation Pixel Fold and packing some impressive hardware specs. Unfortunately, reducing the thickness of the flagship will result in some creases in the armor, and one YouTuber clearly shows that folding the Pixel 9 Pro Fold the wrong way can be a very costly mistake.
A major Pixel 9 Pro Fold design flaw involves Google placing an antenna line in a specific part of the main display, causing it to break easily
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has landed in the hands of Zach over at JerryRigEverything, and most readers already know what kind of rite of passage this flagship will go through. Google is using a solid aluminum construction for its latest handset, suggesting that the company has spared no expense in making its second-generation foldable smartphone as premium as possible. However, when it comes to keeping dust out of its innards, the advertising giant will have to redesign it for the next model, while also evaluating its IP68 rating.
As soon as gravel and dust gets inside the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the creaking sound of the hinge becomes immediately audible, which can be uncomfortable to hear if your device suffers a similar fate in the future. However, dust getting into the tiny crevices should be the least of your worries because when the content creator gets to the bend test, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold cracks without much effort, shattering the larger display. This turn of events reveals that Google has done little to improve the design of the first-generation model, and that’s due to the company placing an antenna line that runs from the top to the bottom of the display.
It’s puzzling why Google would incorporate such an antenna into a device that’s already exceptionally thin, but the company did say that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a stronger hinge compared to the previous generation, but it doesn’t mention overall structural rigidity. Hopefully, the company’s design and engineering team will take a good look at this durability test and ensure that the third iteration doesn’t succumb so easily. For those who haven’t received their Pixel 9 Pro Fold yet, check out the video above to see exactly what to expect.
News source: JerryRigTudo