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Door staff@engadget.com (Thomas Godwin) - 06 Oct 2026
There is no specific lifespan for foldables, though there are suggestions and indicators. For instance, we know that manufacturers test the hinges and screens by folding the phones between 200,000 and 500,000 times. If you open your phone 100 times a day, that would be 5 to 10 years.
However, that's not a guarantee. Samsung claimed the Galaxy Z Fold7's display remained functional after 500,000 folds in lab testing. Sounds pretty reassuring, but a controlled test doesn't mean the Fold7 would survive that many opens and closes throughout your daily life. In the past, Samsung's claim of 200,000 folds on the original Galaxy Fold fell short. When you hear figures tossed around, treat them as general benchmarks and marketing numbers.
Besides, it's far more useful to check for dirt before you close the phone than to count your folds each day. Don't push heavily on the display or use the wrong stylus. Use a soft cloth to clean marks on the screen instead of digging at them with your fingernail. And while the IP68 rating sounds great, Apple notes that the iPhone Duo's water and dust resistance may diminish with normal wear. Nothing lasts forever, but wear increases faster when moving parts are involved.
However, that's not a guarantee. Samsung claimed the Galaxy Z Fold7's display remained functional after 500,000 folds in lab testing. Sounds pretty reassuring, but a controlled test doesn't mean the Fold7 would survive that many opens and closes throughout your daily life. In the past, Samsung's claim of 200,000 folds on the original Galaxy Fold fell short. When you hear figures tossed around, treat them as general benchmarks and marketing numbers.
Besides, it's far more useful to check for dirt before you close the phone than to count your folds each day. Don't push heavily on the display or use the wrong stylus. Use a soft cloth to clean marks on the screen instead of digging at them with your fingernail. And while the IP68 rating sounds great, Apple notes that the iPhone Duo's water and dust resistance may diminish with normal wear. Nothing lasts forever, but wear increases faster when moving parts are involved.