With the Pixel Watch 4, Google’s Smartwatch Is Finally Repairable

There are two T2 screws located under the watch band pocket—unscrew those, and you can access the internals of the Pixel Watch 4, no need to fuss with any adhesives. At this stage, the Biosensor Hub, which houses the heart rate monitor and other sensors on the back of the watch, is still connected. Google intentionally made it so that this connector doesn’t need to be removed for battery replacements. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, which has partnered with Google to sell the spare parts for the watch, says these kinds of connectors can be fragile, so it’s always better if the device’s design lets you replace components without having to unplug them.

To remove the battery, remove the haptic motor with the T2 head on a Torx screwdriver. Two more screws hold the battery, but once they’re out, you can disconnect the battery from the board and be done. You’ll notice that Google used T2 screws throughout that entire process. This is intentional, as you can use the same Torx screwdriver for battery replacements, reducing the number of tools needed for repairs. (A Torx screwdriver is commonly used in electronics repairs and is included in the repair kits sold by iFixit.)

To replace the display, you’ll need to unplug the Biosensor Hub. Then disconnect the battery brackets, unplug the display connector, and unscrew the four screws that hold the glass to the housing. (These are a mix of T2 and T5 screws.) Overall, it looked fairly simple, and it took Park less than 13 minutes to remove these components while talking about the process and answering my questions.

Francis Hoe, senior product manager for the Pixel Watch, says the Pixel Watch 4 should still maintain the IP68 water-resistance rating after servicing. A silicone O-ring helps create a seal when the two halves of the watch are placed back together. Hoe, who has been the product lead since the Pixel Watch 2, says Google always wanted to make its smartwatch repairable. “It has taken us a little bit longer to get to this place—it required a lot of change internally in the product; those types of big architecture changes take multiple years.”

The Fix Is In

The design changes in the Pixel Watch 4 are a big step forward for smartwatch repairability. While you can replace some components in an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, they’re not as easy to repair yourself. Apple’s Self Service Repair program doesn’t cover the Apple Watch, and on iFixit’s repairability rankings, the Apple Watch Series 10 scored a paltry 3/10. (The Pixel Watch 3 earned a 4/10.) Samsung tells WIRED that user repair is supported on its Galaxy Watches (the Galaxy Watch Ultra earned a respectable 7/10 on iFixit), but this doesn’t include the battery due to safety reasons.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu