The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first IP68 folding phone, and that’s a huge deal – here’s why

In the midst of Jimmy Fallon’s stilted celebrity cameos and generally wild vibe, we got our first official look at the Google Pixel 10, Google Pixel 10 Pro, Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The Made by Google exhibit was, to put it mildly, fascinating.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first folding phone to receive an IP68 rating against dust and water ingress, in case you weren’t able to tell from Fallon’s enthusiastic shouts during the reveal section (I can still hear him exclaiming, “IP SIXTY EIGHT!”). This indicates that Google’s upcoming foldable phone is completely dust-proof and can withstand being submerged in freshwater.

Now, the IPX8 rating of the previous model Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold allowed it to withstand a dip, but the dust sealing—the “6” in IP68—is what makes the difference.

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I’ve used some of the greatest folding phones available, including the OnePlus Open for three months, but I’ve always been concerned about their poorer or nonexistent dust protection rating.

I was never able to get past the thought that my phone’s internal components would be permanently harmed by a stray piece of pocket lint or an especially dusty atmosphere.

Deflecting dust

These concerns would be greatly reduced by an IP68 classification. Durability is important, even if we don’t test it much at TechRadar. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold, like its siblings, will receive seven years of OS upgrades, so anything that extends the phone’s physical life is a huge win.

The Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s IP68 rating is also important since it places it on a level playing field with its slab phone competitors.

As a Gen-Z spokesperson for TechRadar, I can vaguely recall a period when people would become alarmed at the mere sight of water on a smartphone. Durability wasn’t always one of the numerous qualities of early smartphones.

Around the middle to late 2010s, dust-proofing and submersion resistance became commonplace; in fact, the Google Pixel 3, which was released in 2018, was the first Pixel phone to receive an IP68 classification. I’m willing to bet that the majority of phone users never consider dust protection and never anticipate needing it.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is significant because it lowers the entrance hurdle for anyone wishing to migrate from slab phones to folding phones. And I just have to give Google credit for dustproofing a device with so many moving parts from a technical standpoint.

Prior to this year’s Made by Google event, I mentioned that if the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold came out with an IP68 rating, I would personally suggest it as the only folding phone that consumers should purchase.

I’ll have to wait till our comprehensive review of the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is released to find out if my earlier assertion is still true, but I’m sure it will if there aren’t any significant problems. One cannot take the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold for granted because it makes a significant transition from cutting-edge curiosity to a true everyday device.

However, there are many fantastic phones to pick from in our guide to the best folding phones if the Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t your thing. Please share your opinions about the first IP68 folding phone in the space provided below.