Trying to allay fears about the durability of its hybrid smartphone, Samsung says that the Galaxy Fold will last for at least five years of normal use.

“Given the smartphone’s design, a folding test was a pivotal part of the Galaxy Fold’s durability assessment,” a Samsung announcement explains. “This test, which examines whether the Galaxy Fold can outlast 200,000 folds and unfolds (or around five years of use, if used 100 times a day), takes a full week to complete. While the extent of the test may seem like overkill to some, Samsung viewed it as vital to ensuring the durability of device’s hinged design and Infinity Flex Display.”

I’m not sure anyone would call this test “overkill.” If anything, it seems like the minimum amount of testing that any credible company would undergo when releasing such an unusual new form factor. (Compare this, say, to how Apple’s secrecy prevented it from adequately testing the then-new iPhone 4 and the “Antennagate” attenuation issues that resulted.)

That said, there’s little reason to believe that Samsung’s folding test is the last word on this product’s quality and longevity. It will hopefully be at least a few years before we have any meaningful data on how well it works in the real world. And by then, Samsung will likely have revved the design a few times, regardless.

Tagged with Galaxy Fold, Samsung