Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold battery explodes during durability test

The upcoming foldable smartphone Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold reportedly caught fire during a durability test, according to Android Authority.

YouTube creator JerryRigEverything performed his signature bend test on the device, which ended with the phone igniting after its frame cracked along the antenna line.

The compression of the battery layers caused a short circuit and thermal runaway, resulting in a small explosion that severely damaged the unit. The reviewer noted it was the first time in years of testing that a device had completely burned up.

The issue appears to be part of a persistent design flaw that has affected all three generations of Google’s foldable phones. Both the original Pixel Fold and last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold also failed bend tests.

Despite its advertised IP68 dust protection, small particles managed to get inside the hinge mechanism, causing grinding noises during operation.

Google has reportedly launched an internal investigation. The incident occurred at an early prototype stage, before mass production began, but it could lead to delays in the device’s release schedule.