Watch the Google Pixel and LG V20 go through scratch and burn tests

YouTuber JerryRigEverything is back with a couple of new scratch and burn durability tests. He performs endurance tests on smartphones by testing how easily every component on the outside of the phone can be damaged with either razors, Mohs hardness picks, or a lighter to test the 'degradability' of pixels over time.

Starting off with the scratch test, the Google Pixel features Gorilla Glass 4 and begins scratching above a Mohs hardness scale level of 6. Nothing out of the ordinary there. The earpiece is a concern at it is not a metal mesh, but made of some kind of tough fabric. The YouTuber reminds owners to be careful not to puncture the earpiece when cleaning.

As for the razor test, the front glass resisted well against the blade while the rear glass showed light scratches. With the same razor, he scratched the aluminum unibody, but it’s worth noting that his key and coin scratches rubbed right off. As for the fingerprint scanner on the Really Blue model, the razor made deep scratches into the scanner’s coating, but the fingerprint scanner worked perfectly fine afterwards, nonetheless.

The bend test of the Google Pixel really shows HTC’s exceptional design. Unlike the case with the Nexus 6P, which failed the bend test on the YouTuber’s channel, twice, the Google Pixel is built very sturdy and the area near the volume key didn’t dent like the 6P’s did.

The LG V20 went off to a rocky start as both the top and bottom bezels of the phone are made of just plastic. But, thankfully, the earpiece is made of metal, just like all the buttons found on the device. Much like the Google Pixel’s fingerprint scanner, however, the LG V20’s fingerprint sensor is also able to read a print 100% of the time, despite its surface being mercilessly scratched.

While keys and coins mark the Pixel, they didn’t cause any permanent damage, as the Pixel’s key and coin marks rubbed right off. It appears the iPhone 7 did better in the key test, and the Pixel did even better with the same test.

The camera comes with a small protector which should be left on. As the YouTuber scratched the bare glass surface, a few seconds passed before the entire rear camera glass shattered as it became weak.

Bringing it to the bend test, the removable battery of the LG V20 doesn’t grant it the same amount of structural integrity found in other smartphones with internal batteries. So while the LG V10 handled the bend test a little better, the V20 still passes this guy’s durability test.