HUAWEI P20 Pro scratch, burn, and bend test doesn't end well

The HUAWEI P20 Pro has been put through its paces in the latest durability test from YouTube channel JerryRigEverything. The premium Huawei flagship is subjected to the typical series of scratches, bends and burns, and holds up reasonably well — until the display cracks.

The P20 Pro’s tempered glass screen withstands up to level 5 on the Mohs hardness scale, before showing noticeable scratches at 6 and deeper grooves at level 7. This is in line with current flagships, though HUAWEI doesn’t advertise the Gorilla Glass coating that many of its competitors have. The P20 Pro’s performance in the burn tests is similarly strong, surviving for about 20 seconds under the lighter before showing signs of damage.

When it comes to bending, host Zack notes that the device immediately curves more than expected — ultimately resulting in the display glass cracking. See it in action below from about 04:20.

It’s noted that the crack doesn’t worsen from a bend in the opposite direction, and the split originates from the same area that was damaged by the 7 Mohs level engraving. In other words, it may not have cracked without that initial damage, though it could sustain similar scratches through normal use anyway.

These tests also demonstrate scenarios that you won’t often encounter in the “real world” — the P20 Pro isn’t intended or likely to have such pressure applied to its display.

With that in mind, it’s nonetheless a comparatively disappointing showing from HUAWEI. The rival Galaxy S9, with its tough frame and thick glass, had no problems in a similar bend test; nor did the Mate 10 Pro, Pixel 2 XL, or iPhone X. In fact, the majority of the more than 100 phones tested on the channel don’t crack like that — even with scratches incurred during the Mohs hardness trials.

The P20 Pro is a premium device in almost every way, but when it comes to screen durability, it may simply be weaker than the competition.

Up next: HUAWEI P20 Pro review.