Samsung Galaxy Z Flip: Toughness of folding glass screen called into question

When it announced the $1,380 Galaxy Z Flip earlier this month, Samsung said the folding phone had a new type of flexible glass display.

It was hoped this would stand up to scratches better than the plastic screens used by the Motorola Razr and Samsung's first folding phone, the Galaxy Fold.

Read More:

• Samsung announces second folding smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip
• Motorola reminds $1,500 Razr buyers: Your folding phone is fragile

However, tests on the new handset show this isn't the case. Zack Nelson of the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything has demonstrated how the 'glass' screen of the Z Flip can be scratched as easily as plastic.

Nelson uses a set of Mohs hardness picks to determine the toughness of phone screens. Those that use glass tend to scratch when using a level six pick, then deeper grooves appear at level seven. With the Galaxy Z Flip, Nelson demonstrated how scratches appeared at level two, the same as with plastic folding phones like the equally new Motorola Razr.

"This screen is in no way scratch resistant whatsoever," Nelson concludes. He also demonstrated how holes can be poked into the display without it shattering like glass would be expected to.

Samsung has been clear since the launch of the Z Flip that its screen is covered in glass, which the company refers to as "Ultra This Glass (UTG)". Samsung admits that this type of flexible glass "should be handled with care," and states how it is covered in a protective layer.

As for repairing a damaged Z Flip display, Samsung is offering a one-time repair for $119 (after which it presumably gets significantly more expensive), and an additional screen protector can be ordered from Samsung for free, albeit only once per customer.