Repeated Folding and Unfolding of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Smartphone Over 200,000 Times: An Examination
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, known for its advanced foldable technology, has been put to the test by the Korean YouTube channel Tech-it. In a manual durability test that surpassed typical lab standards, the device was folded an impressive 200,000 times.
Despite Samsung's claims of a significantly improved durability rating for the Fold 7, with the foldable OLED panel rated for up to 500,000 folds, the test results revealed some early signs of mechanical stress.
Reboots began occurring every 6,000-10,000 folds during the test, and at 46,000 folds, the phone started to creak. At 75,000 folds, black liquid leaked from the hinge, although the hinge mechanism itself remained functional.
However, the display remained fully functional without flickering or visible damage, even towards the 200,000 folds mark. The display colour rendering, touch sensitivity, and speaker functionality also remained intact after 95,000 folds.
By 175,000 folds, all speakers failed. Despite this, the screen functioned albeit with a deeper crease and some noise from the hinge.
The YouTuber emphasized that manual folding better simulates actual usage compared to machines, suggesting that the redesigned hinge and thinner design might not withstand real-world usage as effectively as Samsung's lab data suggests.
Samsung has not yet responded to the test findings regarding the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This test, which offers valuable real-world insight, highlights the practical limits of the device under intensive use, confirming Samsung's improved durability claims but also underlining the need for continued refinement in foldable technology.
Although the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7's display remained unaffected throughout the test, other smartphone components, such as the speakers, started to fail after prolonged usage, with black liquid leaking from the hinge at 75,000 folds. The YouTuber's conclusions indicate that the device's redesigned hinge and thinner design might not handle real-world usage as effectively as suggested by Samsung's lab data, emphasizing the need for further advancements in technology, particularly foldable gadgets like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
