- The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is again tipped to be IP68 rated
- It would be the first foldable to reach the standard
- The Pixel 10 phones are getting unveiled on August 20
We’re patiently counting down the days until the big Google Pixel 10 showcase on August 20, and ahead of the launch event there’s a rumor that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will be the first foldable to launch with an IP68 rating for dust and water protection.
This comes from WinFuture, in an article where most of the handset’s technical details are presented, and it’s the IP68 rating that really stands out. No other foldable on the market can match it, not even the IP48-rated Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
An IP68 phone is completely protected against dust getting in, and is watertight too: the exact definition depends on the phone and the manufacturer, but being able to survive for 30 minutes in water at a depth of 1.5 meters (nearly five feet) is typical.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers IPX8 protection, like foldables such as the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra: this means a high level of waterproofing, but no guarantee that specks of dust and dirt aren’t going to find their way into the housing.
A repeating rumor
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Of course, a foldable phone with a flexible screen and a hinge presents some very specific challenges when it comes to keeping out dust and water, and it will be quite the feat if Google has managed to get the Pixel 10 Pro Fold up to the required standard.
Given that we heard the same rumor from separate sources in June and in July, it’s looking more and more likely that Google has indeed pulled off that feat – and it’s going to be one of the major selling points of the handset, on top of whatever other upgrades we get treated to.
Another interesting tidbit from this report is that the storage will be upgraded from UFS 3.1 to UFS 4.0. It won’t make a huge difference, but it will mean a speed increase, and should make the foldable phone feel snappier overall.
We will of course be covering the launch of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the other handsets in the series live on August 20, and we’re expecting Google to provide a livestream of some description, so you’ll be able to watch along wherever you are in the world.
