That is why we love iFixit. We just lately bought to see a cool teardown video from iFixit for the Pixel 9 Professional XL. A lot of the reporting surrounding that is about how Google designed the 9 collection to be extra sturdy and the way it does higher in drop testing, however for me, that is not the true story right here.
The gadget will get a mediocre repairability rating of 5, which is beneficiant from what I see. A educated skilled with all the correct instruments wasn’t in a position to open the cellphone with out breaking the show. Eradicating the battery was a nightmare for the exact same skilled. And this cellphone is meant to final for seven years?
Look, something will final seven years (or longer) for those who’re keen to spend cash on it. However Google has made an enormous deal about supporting its units for seven years, so now it must construct them in a method that’s designed to be straightforward to maintain alive for that lengthy. I simply ain’t seeing it right here.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL design has a couple of (nearly) saving graces. You do not have to take away the show to vary the battery. That is good as a result of the show will break whereas making an attempt to take away it, and the battery will want changing lengthy earlier than your seven years are up. Sadly, eradicating and changing the battery goes to be unnecessarily troublesome.
That does not account for all the opposite issues that may simply put on out through the rated lifetime of the cellphone. An awesome instance is that your USB port goes to get unfastened and may want changing. In case you use the cellphone — or any cellphone — for seven years you may in all probability want to interchange or restore one thing.
It would not must be this manner.
Seven years is dumb anyway
The concept of utilizing a cellphone for seven years is a bit foolish anyway. For some folks (like me), having to solely spend cash and purchase a cellphone each seven years is superior. New stuff will come, and I’d need a few of it, however so long as it nonetheless does what it does at the moment, I am good.
Most individuals do not see it that method. That new factor Google exhibits off that is not going to work in your outdated cellphone is all the rationale it’s essential to purchase a brand new one. That is how this works — even on the iPhone. New options would require new {hardware}, and you are going to be ignored.
Google (and Samsung and Apple and each different cellphone maker) is aware of this. They depend on it and present you issues solely to let you know that you simply want one thing newer to make use of them. I admire that firms assist their merchandise longer, however I do not faux they do it as a result of they’re the nice man. They may get you to half together with your cash a technique or one other.
The higher method
Google would not must invent something right here. I just lately seemed on the HMD Skyline. It is a fairly good mid-range cellphone with a cool digital camera. One factor particular to me is that it is constructed so as to open it and alter the battery your self. My downside is that it has a really brief three-year assist window.
Then there’s Fairphone, which makes telephones with a 100% repairability rating. In case you comply with directions and have the correct instruments, you may simply maintain them operating when components break.
Even for those who do not wish to swap the battery or the USB port your self, any store goes to have the ability to do these repairs with out breaking anything or charging you greater than it is price.
An enormous motive why Google makes Pixel telephones is to point out everybody what it thinks a smartphone ought to be. They’re the definition of a halo gadget.
Why not go a step additional and design them in order that your seven-year assist promise means just a little extra? I in all probability will not drop my cellphone and break the display, by chance go away it within the solar, or do anything to “break” my cellphone. I will use it sufficient that I am going to want a brand new battery in a couple of years.
If it have been straightforward to swap and one thing anybody may do themselves, it would be one other promoting level of a fairly rattling good line of telephones.