The much-anticipated Pixel 10 lineup is here and like last year, it includes four new models, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. While PixelSnap and new AI features might be the biggest upgrades on the slab phone trio, the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has another big upgrade up its sleeve. It is the first book-style foldable phone to be rated for dust resistance — a feature that is a norm on flagship slab phones.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t the lightest or slimmest foldable, and it isn’t going to make headlines for a major redesign like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. But it will be one of the most durable foldable phones when it goes on sale in October.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold features an IP68 rating, which is the same as most flagship slab phones. But it is easier to make a regular phone dust-resistant because it doesn’t have a hinge running through its screen. The IP68 rating means Google’s new phone is protected against dust particles and can be submerged in up to a meter and a half of water for 30 minutes.
For context, the previous Pixel Fold didn’t have a dust resistance rating. In fact, folding phones typically aren’t rated for protection against granular solids. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the only folding phone available in the US to be rated IP48, where the “4” means it is protected against solid particles bigger than 1 millimeter but not dust.
The Vivo X Fold 5 and upcoming Honor Magic V5 are better than their Samsung rival in this regard. They come close to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold with their IP58 and IP59 ratings. But IP5x means they aren’t truly dust resistant and that there’s some level of dust resistance but such small particles can still enter and interfere with your usage. In comparison, the “6” in IP68 for Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold means it is truly resistant to dust particles.
Google clarifies, “Water resistance and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and will diminish or be lost over time due to normal wear and tear, device repair, disassembly or damage.”
In terms of real-world use cases, this means you can store the new Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold in your pocket without worrying about pocket waste, like lints and dust getting inside your phone. Plus you can take it to a picnic or even a beach and not worry about the sand getting in. However, when taking it to a beach, make sure you don’t dip it in the sea — phones aren’t rated for seawater resistance. The “8” in IP68 rating means it can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater (and not salt water) for 30 minutes.