Google says the Pixel 9 series is twice as durable as the Pixel 8... but how?

The Pixel 9 series is finally here, and there’s a lot to unpack about Google’s flagship phones. Google is once again promising seven years of software updates for these devices. That’s a long commitment, but to really last that long, the phones need to hold up over time. Google is confident that the Pixel 9 phones are up to the challenge by being “twice as durable” as their predecessors.

What makes a phone durable?

Typically, when phone manufacturers talk about durability, they focus on factors like the type of glass protection, the metal used for the frame, and the phone’s IP rating for water and dust resistance. However, in the case of the Pixel 9 series, there aren’t any major changes in these areas.

Like the Pixel 8 series, all Pixel 9 models feature aluminum frames and IP68 ratings. The Pixel 9 Pro phones also retain the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection on both front and back from the 8 Pro. The standard Pixel 9 does see an upgrade from Gorilla Glass Victus to Victus 2. According to Corning’s website, this translates to slightly better scratch resistance.

However, both glass versions have the same drop protection rating — they can survive a 2-meter drop onto a surface similar to concrete. The Victus 2 also boasts the ability to survive a 1-meter drop onto an even rougher surface, but the corresponding data for the original Victus is absent. So, based on the available information, there’s nothing to suggest a dramatic two-fold increase in overall durability.

How exactly has Google made the Pixel 9 series more durable?

Google’s claim that the Pixel 9 phones are “2x” more durable is based on these new models performing better than the Pixel 8 series in third-party drop tests. When asked for more details on what makes the phones that much tougher, Google pointed to the phone’s improved internal architecture and materials but didn’t dive into specifics.

Let’s not forget that last year’s Pixel 8 Pro was already a robust phone, performing well in drop tests and even surviving JerryRigEverything‘s brutal durability test. As the Pixel 9 phones make their way into the hands of tech reviewers and users, we’ll see if they really stand up to the promise of being twice as tough.

Notably, Google has made no such claims about the durability of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. For what it’s worth, the phone does come with an IPX8 rating and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection at the front and the back, so it shouldn’t be too far behind its siblings in durability.