Pixel 10 Pro Fold battery suffers thermal runaway during stress test

In a recent durability test conducted by Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything), a Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold experienced a battery thermal runaway. Heavy smoke was reported and the device’s internal components were destroyed during the test, highlighting a severe safety event during a stress scenario.

The incident appears to have occurred while the device was under extreme mechanical and/or thermal stress. While stressful teardown tests are not the same as everyday use, the result underlines why manufacturers treat battery selection, cell protection and packaging as critical parts of device design.

• What happened: The battery emitted heavy smoke and the phone’s interior was severely damaged during a hard test.
• Who tested it: The test was performed by Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything), who documents durability and stress tests on YouTube.
• Immediate takeaway: The failure suggests a battery cell or integration problem that led to thermal runaway under stress.

Possible contributing factors include a defective cell, insufficient mechanical isolation, or an aggressive test scenario that forced an otherwise latent fault to manifest. Manufacturers typically add multiple layers of protection — physical barriers, thermal fuses, and battery management systems — to reduce the risk of these events.

For readers wanting more context, you can watch the test on YouTube or check general safety resources about lithium-ion thermal runaway, such as this NIST explainer on lithium-ion battery fires.

The event is a reminder that foldable phone designs, which require more complex internal layouts and hinge mechanisms, can introduce additional challenges for safe battery placement and cooling. Consumers and reviewers should watch for any official statements from Google and monitor battery-safety reports as more units are tested.

Discussion: How concerned are you about battery safety in foldable phones—would an incident like this make you hesitate to buy one?