These are pretty big claims, but the results of Allstate’s breakability tests are encouraging. You can watch the video for yourself, but the DropBot dropped the $1,800 Z Fold 3 from six feet onto concrete. In the two drops where the phone was fully open, the screen didn’t shatter—a first for any smartphone. It only received minor pixel damage and scuffing. It didn’t fare so well when the phone was closed, however. In that test, the screen shattered with bits of glass coming loose. As for water resistance, the phone survived a 5-foot dunk in the pool for 30 minutes—which is exactly what its IPX8 rating promised.
Samsung has made significant strides in the durability of foldable phones since it first introduced the Galaxy Fold in 2019. “The Galaxy Z Fold3 is one of the toughest, most durable phones we’ve ever tested, and its interior screen is the first not to crack or shatter in our drop test,” Jason Siciliano, Allstate Protection Plan vice president of marketing and creative director, said in a statement.
This is an encouraging sign that Samsung’s latest foldable flagship should be able to better withstand the rough and tumble of daily life. However, these tests aren’t exactly a 1:1 mirror of how people actually handle their phones. (I don’t know about you, but I don’t climb up 6ft on a ladder and just… drop my phone face-down.) We also won’t know what sort of issues might pop up after months of long-term use. For instance, when we tested the Z Fold 2, we found that the screen became increasingly susceptible to tiny air bubbles over several months of daily use.
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Also, improved durability doesn’t mean these phones are indestructible. Not only does the phone itself cost $1,800 to buy, but it also costs $479 to repair the main screen and $149 to repair the outer screen. So, uh, if you’re prone to accidents, you might still want to invest in a case.