Foldables phones are no longer a new concept; and they’ve reached a developmental point that puts them in the hands of more users. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, for example, are two high-end options, but they need to be maintained to last for years. This quick guide will lay out a few tips for caring for your foldable Android phone.
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Foldable phones need a little extra attention
As expensive as they are, foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Pixel 9 Pro Fold require a little more care than a slab-style device. A normal phone can take heavier knocks, harder taps, and even withstand more scratches than a foldable simply because of the materials needed to make a foldable work.
Internally, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold use flexible glass displays made of several layers of material, including armored layers for strength. In the Fold 6, for instance, Samsung has engineered several iterations of the internal display to be the strongest it can be while maintaining the whole folding selling point.
Both phones are made of aluminum and take on a very strong chassis, though it has limits.
Even with that development, foldable phones can not be as abused as regular devices, even with a case. The hinge assembly is inherently a weak spot, and it’s been proven that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold can not handle extreme bending. On the flip side, the internal screen is much softer.
What to avoid doing to your foldable…
That being said, don’t let dust and dirt sit in your foldable when you close it. Because of the tight tolerances these phones hit, there is little room for extra debris in the sandwich of panels. Dust and debris inside your foldable’s internal display, in addition to pressure, can destroy your internal screen.
Samsung and Google both pre-apply screen protectors that should never be removed. These won’t absorb shock like a tempered glass protector would, but they work well to stop minor scratches, especially if you close the phones with particulates inside. It’s also good to avoid applying pressure with your fingernails or other hard objects.
On top of that, you should never try to bend your Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold beyond its maximum extension. Over time, the hinges in these phones will want to cap at around 98% full extension. An extra firm push can open up the hinge a little more, and that’s fine. But you should take care to never try to force the foldable phone open if it clearly will not open anymore. This can not only break the internal glass but also damage the hinge within. The internal screen is something you do not want to have to repair.
No matter what Samsung or Google tells you, those hinges are also susceptible to dirt and debris entering the mechanism from the outside of the phone. Hinges are designed with features that will try to keep dust out, but it doesn’t always work. It’s best to try and wipe the dust or sand off of the hinge when the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Pixel 9 Pro Fold is closed before attempting to open it. This is especially true for finer particulates that can easily get into the hinge and past the installed brushes.
Foldables, in their current state, are also not as water-resistant as slab phones. Even if that has a resistance IP rating like the Galaxy Z Fold’s IP48 rating, don’t fully trust that it will continue to work under heavy moisture. It’s best to wipe off liquid if it gets lightly wet or to avoid opening it if it were to be submerged. You don’t want to introduce water into the hinge more than has already entered, even if the internal grease used is naturally hydrophobic.
Avoiding these will be some of the best ways to take care of your foldable phone.
Can the crease be fixed?
Sadly, the hinge crease in foldable phones is just a part of the purchase. Because foldable displays need to bend and open numerous times a day, they need to be durable enough to handle repetitive movements. With a hinge that can handle that, OEMs like Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and others have not figured out how to remove the crease. Phones like the Honor Magic V3 get really close, but the crease is always still there.
The crease also will not improve over time. Some try to leave the foldable open when not in use, which might work to lessen the impact of the crease, but it also introduces the internal display to more risk, such as falls.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold need a good case
As impressive and high-quality as the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and another foldable look out of the box, they will not hold up to heavy falls or incidental scratches. That goes for any phone.
With that, we highly recommend finding a good case for your foldable. There are some extra options that are worth considering, as well, such as a case with a hinge protector. A hinge protector can deter dust and scratches, which is a game changer, but it can also trap dust when it slides open with the phone. However, there are other good options without hinge protectors on the market.
One of our favorites is the Thinborne Aramid Fiber case, which is available for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It offers protection with a minimal profile, and it looks pretty great on both phones. Mous also makes some exceptional cases for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
If you’re looking for a hinge protector case, Spigen has some options.
More on Android:
- The $1,799 Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s inner screen costs $1,199 as a repair part
- How to disable Android’s 60Hz frame rate limit for games
- Android Auto stops working on older phones
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