Subscribers to JerryRigEverything's YouTube channel will know from the various torture tests he performs on handsets in the name of durability testing that no phone comes out completely unscathed. However, Google phones have historically held up relatively well in his tests (with the exception of the Pixel Fold and the 2015 Nexus 6p).

Importantly, the Pixel 8 Pro did slightly better than its predecessor, the Pixel 7 Pro. Bend tests showed gaps around the antenna lines, suggesting a loss of water resistance; the Pixel 8 Pro's corresponding tests show that the frame is firmly in place, indicating that Google has made some improvements to the device's construction.

"Despite what sounds like a creaky wooden chip in this particular case of the Pixel 8 Pro, there are no structural flaws when bending it from the front or from the back," says JerryRigEverything. "No cracks in the antenna lines, no cracks in the frame, and most importantly, no fatal damage at all, the Pixel 8 Pro passed my durability tests and gets a thumbs up."

Mobile phones do not always clear this particular hurdle. Folding phones are of course particularly susceptible to this, but expensive flat phones are not immune. iPhone 15 Pro Max broke in this particular test.

Nevertheless, the iPhone 15 Pro has the advantage of durability against everyday wear and tear. In an on-screen Mohs hardness test, the Pixel 8 Pro gets "scratches at level 6 with deep grooves at level 7" and that is an advantage Apple. JerryRigEverything states that it is "not as good as Apple's Ceramic Shield, but still rivals any tempered glass on the planet."

Notably, a scratch on the screen above the fingerprint reader will not render the authentication system inoperable. Also, the side buttons could be forcibly removed with a razor blade, but continued to function when reattached.

However, the Pixel 8 Pro was not completely unscathed from all tests. A cigarette lighter against the screen left permanent burn marks on the OLED panel after 17 seconds, and a sharp blade left unpleasant scars across the metal frame and turtle rubber.

However, it is unlikely that these tests could be unintentionally replicated in the real world, and even if they were, the Pixel 8 Pro kept running despite the ugly cosmetic damage. This means that many devices may still be around to see if Google has promised a seven-year update.