The foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra underwent durability testing
The new foldable flagship from Samsung proved to be noticeably stronger than some competitors, yet the durability test showed that even the company’s most expensive model remains vulnerable to strong mechanical stress.
Zack Nelson, the author of the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, subjected the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra to a series of extreme tests. Earlier, the more compact Galaxy Z Fold 8 passed the bend test with sufficient confidence, however, the increased dimensions of the Ultra model revealed a weak point in the design.
During the repeated bending of the chassis, the flexible AMOLED display with titanium reinforcement stopped working and remained black. At the same time, the smartphone still demonstrated higher durability than Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, which sustained significantly more serious damage during a similar test.
The main problem with foldable devices lies in the specifics of their design. Unlike regular smartphones, such a device must combine a slim body with a movable hinge and a flexible display. Therefore, even with high overall strength, individual components remain sensitive to strong pressure.
Special attention was paid to protection against contamination during the test.
Despite the fact that modern foldable smartphones have become better at resisting water and dust, the ingress of fine particles into the hinge mechanism can potentially lead to malfunctions. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is advertised with IP48 protection, while some competing models have a higher protection class.
Do not forget about the flexible internal display. Its surface is significantly more sensitive than standard protective glass, so fingernails, sharp objects, or excessive pressure can leave marks on it. At the same time, the external screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 glass, which provides a familiar level of scratch resistance.
An interesting result was also yielded by the device teardown. Although the hinge of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra visually resembles the mechanism of the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8, individual components of these designs are not interchangeable. This may be relevant when repairing and replacing components. Zack Nelson also pointed out the smartphone’s cooling system. According to him, Samsung decided to simplify the heat dissipation structure.
Inside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, no copper vapor chamber or graphite thermal pads were found, which are typically used to effectively dissipate heat from the processor. Instead, the manufacturer limited itself to a small amount of thermal paste applied directly to the aluminum frame of the chassis.
