Last week, Google unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, alongside the standard model. This eagerly anticipated device boasts a metal frame with glass panels on both sides. As the smartphones are set to hit the Indian and global markets, curious YouTube users have wasted no time in subjecting the Pixel 8 Pro to rigorous “drop” and “scratch” tests. While these tests don’t offer a definitive assessment of real-world durability, the initial results suggest that the Pixel 8 Pro outperforms the iPhone 15 Pro Max in this aspect.
In a recent YouTube video by PBKReviews, the Pixel 8 Pro endured its first drop test. The device was dropped from waist height with its screen facing the ground. Remarkably, the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2-protected display emerged unscathed, save for some minor scuff marks on the phone’s edges. Even when dropped from the same height with the screen facing upward, the glass panels on both the front and rear sides remained intact. There were some scratches on the metallic frame’s corners, though.
The test continued with the phone being dropped from waist height, this time with the rear panel facing the concrete. This resulted in scratches on the rear panel and the horizontal metallic camera module. Subsequently, the Pixel 8 Pro was dropped from the waist height, but on its side. While there was damage to the display in the top left corner, the phone continued to function normally.
The durability examination also included a scratch test in which the phone was placed inside a Ziploc bag with sand, and the smartphone’s display was rubbed against the sand’s surface. The Pixel 8 Pro showed only minor scratches on the display and appeared unaffected by this scratch test.
The YouTube reviewer noted that the Pixel 8 Pro outperformed the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which cracked during the drop test. Similarly, it was suggested that Google’s Pixel 8 Pro fared better in these tests compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
While the Pixel 8 Pro has yet to undergo the rigorous bend test by Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything) on YouTube, these early durability results are encouraging. Given the Pixel 8 Pro’s premium price tag, it’s reassuring to see its robust performance in these trials. Moreover, Google’s commitment to providing 7 years of OS, feature, and security updates for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro makes their strong build quality even more crucial for long-term use.