The The Right to Repair movement has been around for a long time, and many companies are trying to make it easier for people to replace a battery or fix a broken screen instead of forcing them to buy a new phone. The tech experts at iFixit recently We tested the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL to see how easy it is to access various components, and the results are somewhere in the middle.
At the beginning of the video, we see the iFixit technician removing the front of the phone to get to the internal components. Unfortunately, this results in the screen breaking — something that is common in “screen access” designs. However, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a similar setup to the iPhone 14 and allows you to remove the back panel to replace it the battery and thus reduces the risk of damage to the display.
Google has promised that the Pixel 9 Pro XL is incredibly durable compared to other models, and the reason for this lies in its design. Multiple plates support the internal components and distribute shocks across the entire frame. These plates are visible when disassembled. While this makes it safer against drops, it also results in a much more complicated disassembly process.
The technician in the video struggled to remove the battery. He even called in two other people to hold the phone and apply isopropyl alcohol to loosen the adhesive. These steps weren’t enough, and while the battery eventually came off, it was a messy process that left behind a sticky residue – not something you want around sensitive electronic components.
I’ve built numerous computers and removed a lot of electronics, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL teardown video intimidated me. Anything beyond a simple repair I’d leave to someone with more experience.
Google has promised seven years of software updates; according to Pixel documentation, users can expect updates until August 2031. That is a long Time, especially given the speed at which technology is evolving. By then, the current generation will likely be completely obsolete.
So what’s the bottom line? Google has made progress in the right direction, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. In the video, iFixit gave the Pixel 9 Pro XL a 5/10 for repairability, a rating I’d agree with. It’s possible, but not a project for beginners. Front and back access makes it easy to get to the most commonly replaced parts, but if for some reason you need to dig deeper inside, take careful notes.
