Finally, after months of anticipation and leaks, the Google Pixel Fold is here. Although the company has tried to check as many boxes as possible, is waterproofing one of them? The Google Pixel Fold is a premium smartphone. Naturally, buyers would want it to deliver in all aspects, including performance, cameras, battery life, and durability.
While Google equips the phone with the Tensor G2 chipset and a versatile triple-camera setup to take care of the first two, it also has a 4,821 mAh battery that lasts beyond 24 hours or up to 72 hours in the Extreme Battery Saver mode. However, when it comes to durability, there are certain pros and cons. For instance, the custom dual-axis hinge is made of multi-alloy steel, making it robust. But on the other side, the phone isn’t entirely waterproof. The Google Pixel Fold has an IPX8 water-resistance rating.
Here’s What The Pixel Fold’s IPX8 Rating Mean
Let’s break down the rating and understand whether the Pixel Fold can withstand dust and water ingress. The ‘X‘ in the IP rating of this phone suggests that it can’t stop minute particles or dust from entering the chassis. Hence, the Pixel Fold isn’t dust-resistant, which makes it vulnerable at places like a beach or a construction site. However, this shouldn’t necessarily be a dealbreaker for buyers as the most popular foldable in this segment, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, offers no dust resistance.
The ‘8’ in Pixel Fold’s IP rating suggests that the foldable can survive submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for about half an hour. Although, users shouldn’t take this as a sign to take the phone on casual swims in pools, as it might contain certain chemicals that could harm the internals. Instead, the limited water resistance should be looked upon as an assurance that the smartphone would live past an accidental drop in the sink, bucket, or even a shallow pool, for that matter.
In addition, the Pixel Fold should also be able to handle freshwater splashes and light rain. With that said, there is one thing that users should remember. Like any other smartphone, the foldable’s water resistance is not permanent and would decrease with regular wear and tear. Nonetheless, it’s good that Google provides an official IP rating for the Pixel Fold. Another smartphone announced at the Google I/O 2023, the Pixel 7a, comes with an IP67 dust and water-resistance rating.
