Home Extreme Durability Test of Samsung Z Fold 7: Water & Drop Test – DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!

onJuly 24, 2025

Extreme Durability Test of Samsung Z Fold 7: Water & Drop Test – DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Mobile Review

5 min read

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has arrived, hailed by Samsung as their slimmest and most durable foldable yet. With bold claims of lighter weight, tougher materials, better glass (Ceramic Guard 2 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2), and an improved IP rating (IP48), the question arises: just how robust is this cutting-edge device in the face of extreme abuse?

Today, we’re diving into an in-depth, real-world durability test that pushes the Z Fold 7 far beyond its intended limits. From freezing it solid to submerging it in a river, and subjecting it to rigorous scratch, bend, and drop tests – we’re leaving no stone unturned. A critical warning: DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE TESTS AT HOME. This is purely for demonstration purposes to assess the phone’s limits. Let’s find out if the Z Fold 7 truly lives up to its bold claims!

The Ultimate Freeze Test: 12 Hours in Ice

Our extreme journey began with the Z Fold 7 being frozen solid for 12 hours overnight. This brutal test aimed to see if the phone could withstand extreme cold and the expansion of ice.

The Challenge: Submerging a sophisticated foldable device in water and freezing it is a recipe for disaster for most electronics, risking internal damage from water ingress and component stress from ice expansion.
The Result: After a thorough thawing and cleaning process, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 emerged perfectly working. This is an astonishing feat, demonstrating exceptional sealing and component resilience to extreme temperatures and moisture.

Deep Water Immersion: River Test with High Pressure & Sand

Next, we took the Z Fold 7 to a flowing river for a real-world water durability test, far exceeding its official IP48 rating.

The Challenge: The phone was subjected to a 30-minute deep water immersion in a fast-flowing river. The added complexity was the presence of significant sand and debris, which can be highly damaging to foldable hinges.
IP48 Rating Context: The Z Fold 7’s IP48 rating signifies resistance to solid objects (like dust particles, though not large sand grains) and immersion in water up to a certain depth. This test pushed it well beyond that.
The Result: Despite the high water pressure and the risk of sand entering the hinge mechanism, the Z Fold 7 emerged perfectly operational. Both the outer and inner displays, along with all functions, remained intact. The hinge, a common point of vulnerability for foldables, also seemed to handle the fine sand particles surprisingly well, though caution is always advised.

Everyday Liquid Endurance: The Multi-Liquid Test

Beyond pure water, phones often encounter various liquids in daily life. We tested the Z Fold 7 against nine different common liquids.

The Challenge: The phone was exposed to a range of liquids including sodas, caffeinated drinks, and hot/cold water, which can be corrosive or leave sticky residues, potentially disabling ports or affecting internal components.
The Result: After contact with all nine liquids and a thorough cleaning, the Z Fold 7 was perfectly working. This indicates strong resistance to accidental spills and everyday liquid encounters, reinforcing Samsung’s efforts to make these devices more robust for real-world use.

Construction & Materials Analysis: The Science of Durability

A closer look at the Z Fold 7’s build materials reveals the engineering behind its resilience.

Frame: The phone utilizes a solid aluminum frame with a tough paint finish, providing excellent structural integrity.
Buttons: All physical buttons are made of metal, matching the frame’s durability. The fingerprint sensor remained fully functional even after scratching.
Outer Display: Features Corning Ceramic Guard 2 glass. This is a highly advanced, scratch-resistant material.
- Scratch Test: It showed no hairline scratches up to Level 5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Fine scratches appeared only at Level 6, and deeper ones at Level 7, indicating impressive scratch resistance.
Back Panel: Made from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. This glass is also highly durable and designed to resist fingerprints and glare.
- Scratch Test: Fine scratches appeared at Level 5, and deeper ones at Level 6 and 7. This suggests that even harder metals can scratch it, emphasizing the need for a case.
Camera Lenses: The camera lenses exhibit similar scratch resistance to the outer display, protecting vital optics.
Inner Display: As a foldable, the inner display uses a flexible plastic glass.
- Vulnerability: While resistant to general usage like nails and fingers, it is susceptible to scratches from metal objects. However, being an inner display, it’s mostly protected when the phone is closed.

Bend Test: Flexing Under Pressure

Foldable phones are designed to flex, but how much pressure can the Z Fold 7 truly withstand?

The Challenge: Applying significant pressure to the phone from both the front and back, simulating accidental bending scenarios.
The Result: The Z Fold 7 showed only a minor flex with no signs of damage or internal issues. Even when attempting to bend it from the back, there was no structural compromise. This is particularly impressive for such a slim foldable device. The hinge also performed well under these stresses.

Extreme Drop Tests: Surviving the Falls

The ultimate test for any smartphone: enduring drops from various heights and angles. Again, do not try this at home!

Pocket Height Drops (2.5 feet):
- Corner Impact: The phone survived a drop directly onto its corner, with the glass remaining intact.
- Rear Side Drop: The back panel showed no damage, and both displays remained fully functional.
- Display Side Drop: The outer display, protected by Ceramic Guard 2, survived without cracks, and the inner display also remained perfect.
Increased Height Drops (5-6 feet):
- Back Panel Drop: Even from a greater height, the back panel remained perfectly intact, and both displays functioned flawlessly.
- Screen Side Drop: The outer display again survived the impact without breaking, and the inner display remained fully functional.

Despite foldables generally not being designed for such extreme drop tests due to their luxurious and complex nature, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 demonstrated remarkable resilience. Its slim profile might have even helped it absorb some impacts.

Conclusion: A New Benchmark in Foldable Durability

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has truly set a new benchmark for foldable phone durability. Its ability to survive being frozen, submerged in a river with sand, exposed to various liquids, and endure multiple drops from significant heights is nothing short of astonishing. The advanced materials like Corning Ceramic Guard 2 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2, combined with a robust aluminum frame and a surprisingly resilient hinge, contribute to a device that feels incredibly solid.

While no phone is indestructible, and these tests push far beyond typical usage, the Z Fold 7 proves that Samsung has made significant strides in making its foldable devices incredibly tough. For everyday accidental drops and spills, this phone appears exceptionally well-equipped.

However, it is always, always recommended to use a protective case and screen protector (especially for the outer display) for such a premium and expensive device. While the Z Fold 7 is built like a tank, prevention is always better than a costly repair.

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