Pixel 11 Pro's Drop Test Shame: Smaller Model Falls Behind

The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) has published labels for Google's new Pixel 11 Pro phones, revealing some surprising results. The smaller Pixel 11 Pro model received a lower rating in a test of repeated free fall reliability.

In the 'Repeated free fall reliability test', which measures how many drops a phone can handle without defecting, the Pixel 11 series generally matched last year's lineup. However, the smaller Pixel 11 Pro stood out as a weaker performer, with an overall rating of 'B' compared to its peers.

The results show that the Pixel 11 Pro XL and Fold models both received an 'A' rating in this test, matching their counterparts from last year. The base model also earned an 'A' rating, with 270 drops before defecting. In contrast, the smaller Pixel 11 Pro could only withstand 180 drops.

The discrepancy has raised questions about potential testing errors or changes to the phone's durability this year. The EPREL will likely update their ratings as more information becomes available.