Pixel 11 Pro Fold Wins Over Galaxy Z Fold 8 With IP68 Durability

Q: Why are tech reviewers abandoning Samsung's powerful Galaxy Z Fold 8 just for a simple trip to the beach?

They are not abandoning Samsung for power reasons; they are avoiding a durability risk that becomes obvious at the beach. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is fast, polished, and more rugged than before, but it still carries an IP48 rating, not IP68. That means it resists water well, yet is not dust-tight and is only certified against solid particles larger than 1 millimeter. Fine beach sand is often much smaller and can get into the hinge. That matters more on a foldable than on a normal phone because the hinge is the device’s most critical moving part. Multiple reports, teardown tests, and user experiences cited in the coverage show that sand in a foldable hinge can cause crunching noises, rough movement, and potentially long-term damage. Reviewers say that turns a vacation setting like Myrtle Beach into a real stress test for Samsung’s design, no matter how strong its titanium hinge and reinforced inner display are. Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold changes that calculation because it offers IP68 dust and water resistance, a tougher back material, and a redesigned hinge, while also becoming thinner and lighter. Reviewers describe it as the foldable they can carry with more confidence in messy real-world environments, including beaches. So the beach is exposing a practical divide in the foldable market: Samsung still leads on performance and design, but Google is winning on peace of mind. For many reviewers, that makes the Pixel the safer everyday choice.

3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Aug 21

Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold stands out for full IP68 water and dust resistance, a feature the report says makes it a safer everyday pick than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Samsung’s foldable carries an IP48 rating, which can block larger particles but leaves beach sand as a concern; the author cited reports of “crunchy” hinges after seaside use.
Google also trimmed nearly 1 millimeter of thickness and almost 20 grams of weight from the new Fold, bringing it closer to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in feel while adding Qi2.2 magnetic charging and tougher back glass.
The report frames U.S. foldables as splitting into niches: Motorola’s Razr Fold for battery and cameras, Samsung’s Z Fold 8 for power and design, and Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold for durability.