Nelson made it clear that the accident happened only when the phone was already broken in pieces and when it was subjected to extreme stress, something that ordinary users would not have ever done. Nevertheless, he accepted the fact that it was something that had never happened. It was the first smartphone to literally burst into smoke; he called it, in the 10 years of his smartphone-testing experience, a spectacular failure.
Experts say it’s not a design flaw
Although the image was dramatic, Elizabeth Chamberlain reported to The Verge that the smoke and fire do not necessarily mean there was a design flaw. She described thermal runaway, which occurs when the lithium-ion battery short-circuits and overheats, and can occur when a charged battery is punctured. Chamberlain says that Nelson probably did not release the battery without trying, an action that could have led to the reaction.
Dust test raises more concerns
Nelson also put to the test the statement made by Google that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the most durable foldable it has launched so far. When he added dust directly onto the hinge of the phone, the phone made crunching sounds as dust particles lodged inside of it, a less-than-optimal outcome in a phone that is marketed as IP68-rated. The viral video has also led to a discussion about the practical endurance of the newest flagship foldable, but Google has not made any comment on the incident.