In the process of announcing Google Pixel Watch 4Google had said that the smartwatch had been completely redesigned internally, also from a repairability perspective, with the aim of making people forget about its non-repairable but only replaceable predecessors.
Apparently the words of the Mountain View giant were not at all circumstantial, given that iFixit carried out the teardown, defining it as the most repairable in the world (so far).
Google Pixel Watch 4 protagonist in the iFixit teardown
“We just took apart the most repairable smartwatch on the market, and it’s made by a company you’d never suspect“This is how the video of the Google Pixel Watch 4 teardown created by opens iFixitand these words are not surprising if we think about where we were until the previous model.
With the first three generations of Pixel Watch, the Mountain View giant has always and only favored design, putting aside the repairability (and sustainability) of the project. During the launch of the new model, which has been available for purchase in Italy for a few days, we underlined the fact that the fourth generation was configured as “the litmus test” for Google.
Apparently Big G has hit the mark, proposing a smartwatch that at first glance recalls its predecessor but in reality changes profoundly, especially inside, becoming the point of reference in terms of repairability in the smartwatch market, characterized by devices that report cards of iFixit are “failed” with a rating of 3 or 4 out of 10.
To disassemble it, just a few tools are needed
Simply remove the band from the Google Pixel Watch 4 to find the first screws, each equipped with a small insulating ring (O-Ring) which is fundamental for maintaining the degree of waterproofness (IP68 certification) even after opening the device.
A few screwdrivers, tweezers and a little patience: this is all you need to disassemble the smartwatch; iFixit makes a comparison with the Apple Watch Ultra 3, a “hermetically sealed” device whose disassembly required the use of solvents, heat sources and, in general, much more patience.
How it’s done inside the smartwatch
Around Mountain View they have thought of the smallest detail: two of the screws on the outside act as a mechanism to delicately compress the internal gasket when tightened, guaranteeing once again that the waterproofness is not affected.
Going further, the inside of Google Pixel Watch 4 can be accessed from the back, with the possibility of acting on the internal components even without the need to remove the rear glass with all the sensors.
iFixit also points out that the smartwatch integrates the first truly replaceable batterysecured with two screws and a connector. No glue and, consequently, no solvents are needed to “peel it off”. It takes just a few minutes and a few tools to replace.
The display also follows the same logic with (replaceable) screws and gaskets and no glue or adhesive, a bit like traditional diving watches. iFixit also suggests that the rest of the components, including the logic board, are also easy to remove, fix or replace.
iFixit promotes the Google Pixel Watch 4 with one caveat
At the end of its teardown, iFixit awarded the rating of 9 out of 10 to Google Pixel Watch 4 regarding the repairabilityunderlining that the re-design implemented by the Mountain View giant favors repairability: “[…] we have a stylish and intelligent smartwatch, designed to be opened, repaired and worn again.”
iFixit hopes that, with the next generation, Big G will go even further, publishing the complete diagrams of the device, lowering the price of spare parts (for example the display which costs almost a third of the new smartwatch) and making replacing the display even simpler (perhaps changing the necessary screwdriver, Torx Plus 1IP, which is not very common).
We have already tried the latest addition to Google and were very impressed by the fact that, although it seems identical to its predecessor, the quality it transmits radically changes. You can watch our video review below.
