Zack Nelson, the renowned host of the popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, recently revealed his picks for the least and most durable smartphones of 2024. His annual durability tests have become a benchmark in the tech community, providing valuable insights into the structural integrity of the latest devices.
Nelson’s extensive testing methodology involves scratching, scraping, burning, and bending smartphones to evaluate their resilience. Displaying a table laden with the remnants of his 2024 experiments, Nelson identified the triple-folding Huawei Mate XT as the least durable phone of the year. He cited the phone’s exposed, soft center screen as its primary weakness. This design flaw, combined with the screen’s susceptibility to scratches and its tendency to attract debris, makes the Mate XT a fragile device. While acknowledging the innovative design, Nelson emphasized that it sacrifices durability for aesthetics.
In the original Mate XT bend test video (link), Nelson highlighted the phone’s unique sensors that warn users against bending the folds incorrectly. Despite this innovative feature, the phone ultimately cracked under pressure.
The Most Durable Phones of 2024
The Armor 24 earned the title of the most durable smartphone of 2024, showcasing impressive ruggedness. Nelson described the phone as having enough built-in protection to withstand a steamroller. The Armor 24’s robust design (link) proved impervious to Nelson’s bending attempts.
Runners-Up and Repairability Awards
To discover the runners-up in the most durable category and learn which phones earned recognition for repairability, watch Nelson’s full video at the top of this page.
