The right-to-repair movement has given us many more user-accessible devices, such as the Framework laptop. But smartphone design seems to be continuing its steady course toward ever tinier components and devices that are almost impossible for the layperson to open, let alone repair. The Pixel 9 series is one of the worst offenders so far.
Both iFixit and JerryRigEverything, two respected sources of repair reports and often the first to “tear apart” new devices, have gotten their hands on a Pixel 9. The former took apart a Pixel 9 XL, the latter a Pixel 9 Pro XL. iFixit says Google’s claims of improved durability seem justified due to the phone’s materials and construction… but if you manage to break it, you’ll have even more trouble getting it repaired.
iFixit immediately destroyed the Pixel 9 XL’s screen, only to open the phone in the same way as other Pixel devices. And I remind you, these are experts who do this all day, every day. They are not your cousin who once repaired a Nokia in 2011.
Fortunately, it should be possible to replace the battery (the most common repair on mobile devices) without removing the display. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. After the back, there were several more components to remove: the temperature sensor, the wireless charging coil, then several brackets and ribbon cables with tiny screws and parts glued in place.
Once the battery is exposed, you still have to use a fiddly tab system that “cuts away” the adhesive underneath. iFixit was unable to do this as intended, even with three people at the same timeone operated the plastic tab and two held the phone in place. I had to soak the adhesive in isopropyl alcohol to weaken it.
But even that wasn’t enough – they had to pry it out with a plastic rod, a potentially dangerous maneuver with a modern battery. Part of the protective layer was torn off in the process, and you were left with a sticky, soggy mess. Even if the screen had remained intact, it seems unlikely that this phone could have been successfully reassembled on the first try. iFixit called the battery removal “inexcusably bad” compared to the latest Apple and Samsung phones, even with a new rear access option.
JerryRigAt the back of the Pixel 9 Pro XL, everything went smoothly, the screen remained undisturbed. He immediately faulted the more than a dozen screws securing various brackets, many of which were non-standard and did not fit. And once again, removing the battery is particularly awkward, or in his words, “pretty much the worst. Even Apple has a better removal system.”
Once again, the technician had to use alcohol to loosen the adhesive holding the battery in place, as the plastic tape meant to cut through the adhesive failed completely. And once again, it didn’t work. JerryRigEverything also had to resort to a crowbar, a method that increases the chances of puncturing the battery, breaking the display underneath, or warping the phone’s casing.
“For repair reasons, I can’t recommend this phone to anyone,” he says. “… it’s unfair to humanity to produce ten million of these devices with such a high level of difficulty.”
While both of these expert sources say Samsung and Apple are in a better position than Google, which just abandoned any kind of repairs for the Pixel Watch 2 and 3, they are not without faults when it comes to repairability. iFixit called the new Galaxy Ring, with its similar, replaceable-only repair system, “100% expendable,” and the third-generation Airpods received a shocking zero out of ten for repairability. iFixit has had a very public dispute with Samsung over the manufacturer’s continued use of expensive and difficult-to-replace components.
Some companies are making great strides in repairability. Microsoft’s latest Surface devices are a highlight in this area. They have QR codes on the components that link to repair and replacement guides that anyone can read. However, a Surface tablet or laptop is much more accessible for a regular user and a breeze for a professional repair technician. Google’s battery packs have similar QR codes that immediately caught iFixit and JerryRigEverything’s eye… but both were dismayed to find that they only linked to a live support chat, not actionable instructions or guides.
Even with outliers like the Fairphone, major manufacturers still make big compromises on repairability and sustainability when it comes to phone and wearable design. Google has promised seven years of software updates for its latest phones, but it seems optimistic at best that Pixel 9 phones will actually last that long in the hands of their owners.
