Google’s Pixel 9 phones are a nightmare to repair

The right to repair movement has given us many more owner-accessible devices, such as the Framework laptop. But smartphone design seems to be continuing steadily down the path of increasingly smaller components and devices that are virtually impossible for the layman to even open, let alone repair. The Pixel 9 series is one of the worst offenders yet.

Both iFixit and JerryRigEverything, two respected sources on repairability and often the first to “break down” 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 appear to be justified based on the phone’s materials and construction… but if you manage to break it, you’ll have an even worse time fixing it.

iFixit immediately destroyed the Pixel 9 XL’s screen to open the phone the same way as other Pixel devices. And let me remind you: these are experts who do this all day, every day, and not your cousin who once fixed a Nokia in 2011.

Fortunately, it should be possible to replace the battery (the most common repair for any mobile device) without removing the screen panel. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. They had to take out multiple components after the rear body panel: the temperature sensor, the wireless charging coil, then multiple brackets and ribbon cables with small screws and glued-on parts.

Once the battery is visible, you still have to use a tricky pull tab designed to cut away the adhesive underneath. iFixit couldn’t do this as intended, even with three people at the same timeone worked with the plastic tab and two held the phone, and had to resort to soaking the adhesive in isopropyl alcohol to weaken it.

But even that wasn’t enough: they had to pry it up with a plastic rod, a potentially dangerous move for a modern battery. This removed some of the protective layer, leaving a sticky, soggy mess at the end. Even if the screen had remained intact, it seems unlikely that this phone could have been successfully reassembled in one go. iFixit called the battery removal “unforgivably bad” compared to the latest Apple and Samsung phones, even with a new rear access option.

JerryRig Everything went well for the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s back panel, leaving the screen alone. He immediately discovered that there were more than a dozen screws holding various brackets, many of which were non-standard and did not fit together. And again removing the battery is particularly cumbersome, or in his words: “pretty much the worst. Even Apple has a better removal system.”

Once again, the technician had to resort to alcohol to weaken the adhesive holding the battery in place, as the plastic ribbon intended to cut the adhesive failed completely. And again, it didn’t work. JerryRigEverything also had to resort to a pry bar, a move that increases the chance of destroying the battery, breaking the screen panel underneath, or warping the phone’s casing.

“From a repairability perspective, I can’t recommend this phone to anyone,” he says. “…it is unfair to humanity to produce ten million of these devices at this level of difficulty.”

While both expert sources say Samsung and Apple are doing better than Google, which has virtually given up on repairs for both the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3, they are not without sins when it comes to repairability. iFixit called the new Galaxy Ring with its similar replace-only repair system “100% disposable,” and the third-generation Airpods received a shocking zero out of ten for repairability. iFixit had a very public disagreement with Samsung over the manufacturer’s continued use of expensive and difficult-to-replace components.

Some companies are making progress in repairability. Microsoft’s latest Surface devices stand out in this area, with QR codes on the components links to repair and replacement manuals that everyone can read. But a Surface tablet or laptop is much easier to access for a regular user, and it’s a piece of cake for a professional repairman. Google’s batteries have similar QR codes that iFixit and JerryRigEverything immediately noticed… but both were dismayed to discover that they only linked to live support chat, and not to any actionable instructions or guides.

Even with outliers like the Fairphone, major manufacturers still make huge compromises on repairability and durability when it comes to phone and wearable design. Google has promised seven years of software updates for its most recent phones, but it seems optimistic at best that Pixel 9 phones will actually last that long in the hands of their owners.