Whether it’s an Android phone or an iPhone, traditional smartphones can easily last four or five years thanks to a combination of build quality and extensive software support. For example, iPhones regularly receive at least five years of updates, and newer models have longer-lasting screens. Likewise, many Samsung Galaxy devices are receiving the Android 17 update, and some guarantee seven years of software updates while featuring solid metal and glass designs. Foldable phones may not match that lifespan yet, according to owner reports online. Buyers can expect two or three years of use from a foldable device, and even more if they take special care of the handset. But they may also have foldable display issues that need to be addressed, due to the nature of these devices.
Foldable phones have moving components, including the foldable screen and hinge, that make the folding and unfolding mechanism possible. These components can fail, especially the foldable display, which is typically covered with ultra-thin glass and a screen protector, rather than the tougher glass used on standard smartphone screens.
Foldable phone vendors, including Samsung, Google, Motorola, Honor and others, regularly address the durability of foldable phones when announcing new models. Phones like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Honor Magic V6 offer water and dust resistance. The Galaxy Z Fold 7’s foldable panel should withstand 500,000 folds, 2.5 times more than its predecessors and in line with competing foldables. Add strong metal frames and durable protective glass on exterior displays, and the new foldables seem equipped to handle everyday use and accidental drops. However, buyers should always prepare for possible damage to the foldable screen.
What the owners say
Interested buyers regularly participate in conversations on forums like Reddit about the durability of foldable devices, with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series often appearing in these discussions because these foldable devices are widely available, particularly in the United States. Jerky_san said in a response to someone interested in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 that the “Fold is an amazing device, but it’s not for everyone.” They reported experiencing various issues with Samsung foldable devices. “I don’t care about my phones, but my Fold 3 naturally cracked its screen,” the user said. “I have NEVER dropped it or handled it roughly. I upgraded to a (Fold 4) after getting warranty service on the (Fold 3). The (Fold 4) also cracked its screen and then had Bluetooth/Wi-Fi issues.”
The newer the Fold generation, the more durable the phone can be, according to what some Galaxy Z Fold 5 owners have said in these threads. “I’ve had a Fold 5 for almost two years now, until October (2025),” said Reddit user Vlaun. “It’s been sturdy all this time. It’s never fallen, it still has the interior screen cover that came with it.” According to Reddit user bgf2414, their Fold 5 took a beating while being used on a construction site: “I dropped it into drying concrete, mud, off a 12-foot ladder onto concrete (with a case of course); dropped it into a mud hole filled with water from a broken plumbing pipe. It held up to everything like a champ.”
But even the newest foldable displays can have issues specific to this technology. Reddit user Zorbyss said the screen protector on the interior display of his Galaxy Z Fold 5 started peeling off after about 18 months. Minor cracks began to develop afterward.
Samsung Care+ is a must-have
A Reddit author went further by conducting a durability survey for the Galaxy Z Fold series in 2025, which covered all Fold models Samsung had made up to the Galaxy Z Fold 6. According to this Reddit author, Macusercom, the “(Galaxy Z) Fold 5 and 6 are considerably more reliable” than the fourth and third generations, showing fewer repairs. Newer devices have fewer issues with the screen protector, and screens are less likely to have microcracks, which can lead to more significant screen damage (survey data analyzed by Redditor showed that the foldable screen broke in almost half of phones with microcracks). The Redditor also addressed the lifespan of the Galaxy Z Fold models, saying that serious issues, “cracks, peeling (and) breakage,” appear after the first year and peak around two years. Another potential sign of internal breakage concerns the ability of the interior screen to unfold flat.
This survey, although limited in scope, suggests that Samsung is improving the durability of its foldable handsets with each generation. Given the high competition in the foldable device market, new non-Samsung foldable phones may offer more durable experiences. For example, the Honor Magic V6 announced in March 2026 features a hinge made from the strongest commercially available steel.
But given the high price of foldable phones and the risk of screen damage, buyers should weigh the option of purchasing premium coverage. Some Galaxy Z Fold owners who detailed their durability issues on Reddit praised the Samsung Care+ protection plan, which allowed them to repair the foldable display for free (screen protector replacement) or for $29 (full interior screen replacement).
