Google may have made the Pixel 11 Pro XL its most durable Pixel yet, but a new durability test suggests its scratch-resistant display coating doesn’t offer quite the protection you might expect.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, while an aluminium frame and IP68 certification add further protection against everyday damage. Google also says the display’s new scratch-resistant coating makes it twice as resistant to scratches as the previous model.
That claim doesn’t quite hold up in testing, however. YouTuber JerryRigEverything put the flagship through a series of durability tests, and the display still began showing scratches when exposed to objects rated at level 6 on the Mohs hardness scale. The coating does appear to make very fine scratches less noticeable, but it doesn’t prevent the screen from being marked by harder materials.
The highly polished aluminium frame also picked up scratches relatively easily during the test. There is some good news for anyone worried about repairs, though. The phone’s physical buttons can be removed from the frame, making them easier to replace if they become damaged.
More importantly, the Pixel 11 Pro XL passed the bend test without any major issues, suggesting the frame and overall construction can withstand a fair amount of pressure.
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The teardown also reveals a surprisingly repair-friendly design. The phone can be opened from both the front and rear, allowing the display and back panel to be replaced without having to dismantle the entire device. The charging coil is attached to the rear assembly and can also be replaced.
The battery is held in place with strong adhesive, but it remains replaceable. JerryRigEverything also found that the cameras and HiLight LED can be removed without much difficulty, which should make repairs more straightforward if one of these components fails.
So while the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s scratch-resistant coating doesn’t make the screen immune to scratches, the durability test does highlight one area where Google’s flagship could be more practical than its premium finish suggests: repairability.