Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Durability Test Shows Why You Need a Screen Protector and Case

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7, priced at $2,000, has a sleek design and a lighter hinge and promises the latest tech. JerryRigEverything put it to the test on YouTube and it’s durable but not perfect, showing off its engineering as well as its weaknesses.

The Z Fold 7’s outside has Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 for the 6.5-inch AMOLED cover screen and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for the back. It passes scratch tests well. The outer screen resists marks until level 6 on the Mohs scale, scratches at level 7 and that’s flagship level like the iPhone 16 Pro. The anodized aluminum sides and camera array (200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto) can take casual scratches and the metal volume rocker works, so the closed phone is ready for daily use.

Open it and the 8-inch AMOLED inner display with 120Hz refresh and 2,600 nits brightness is vulnerable, with scratches appearing at level 2 using just fingernails or plaind old lint. Samsung does include a pre-installed screen protector however with one free replacement in the first year for $19.99 and $59.99 thereafter but a full inner panel repair is $589. Third party protectors can worsen the fold’s crease so you gotta be gentle with this premium device.

The Armor Flex hinge is 27% thinner and 43% lighter and tackles dust vulnerability, a common foldable flaw. In JerryRigEverything’s dust test, simulating sandy environments, the hinge works smoothly without grinding and has an IP48 rating for objects over 1mm and water submersion. Dust-sealing rings around the camera lenses is a plus over previous Fold models.

Both AMOLED displays are vibrant and smooth but fail under heat. A flame test shows the inner screen burns in 10 seconds and the outer in 15 seconds with permanent marks. Prolonged bright app use or hot environments can damage the screens, so foldable tech has thermal limits.

In the bend test, the Z Fold 7 can take intense flexing open and closed and meets Samsung’s claim of 500,000 folds – that’s 14 years of 100 daily folds. The titanium backplate and reinforced frame doesn’t crack or fail and all screens and hinge work, that’s Samsung’s solid design.

It’s a durable but delicate device. The outside and hinge is good against dust and bending but the inner screen is scratchy and heat prone. For $2,000 it’s for people who treat it like a gem and can use Samsung’s repair support and Supercharger network. JerryRigEverything’s tests shows a phone that’s pushing the limits of foldable.