- The Pixel Watch 4 has been named the best smartwatch in terms of repairability, above the Apple Watch
- iFixit reviewed the Pixel Watch 4 and praised it for the visible screws and easy access to the watch mechanism.
- The outlet also addressed the watch’s battery, calling it a “truly replaceable smartwatch battery.”
When Google introduced the Pixel Watch 4, we were excited to see a host of new features, from improved battery life to its sleek new domed display, but its replaceable parts topped our list, which gets forgotten for a lot of wearable tech.
The option of being able to repair your own technology is a fairly common request among consumers, and has been for some time.
While most of the best phones have been modified to meet this request, wearables are still overlooked in the repairability department, but Google is changing that with the Pixel Watch 4, a device that iFixit has crowned the most repairable smartwatch out there, even surpassing the Apple Watch.
What has changed?
In its breakdown of the Pixel Watch 4, iFixit, a company that publishes device repairs and sells tool kits for doing so, drew attention to a number of new design elements that make it easier for consumers to repair their own devices. This brings its Pixel Watch 4 score to 9/10 for repairability.
This is significant compared to the low 3s and 4s given to similar devices in the past, as most smartwatches arrive as sealed units and require specialized services like AppleCare.
First of all, the medium simply summarizes Google’s latest smartwatch; “No more glue, frustration and angst. In their place: screws, seals and pure joy in design.”
What immediately stands out for iFixit is the visibility of the Pixel Watch 4’s screws, calling it “a good sign,” but Google goes even further by giving each screw its own O-ring while keeping its IP68 water resistance intact, but still allowing easy access to the inside of the watch.
According to iFixit, he managed to get into the clock in a matter of minutes simply by using three Torx Plus bits (1IP, 2IP, and 5IP), a spudger, and pliers. This allows you to access the inside of the watch from the back.
From there, you can even remove the main screen as there’s no glue holding it in place, which iFixit describes as a “complete rethink of the smartwatch design.” Then there is the issue of the battery.
Once you’ve mastered the above, this will give you access to the Pixel Watch’s battery, which iFixit managed to remove and swap by removing its two screws and its connector: a “truly replaceable smartwatch battery.”
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