TheGoogle Pixel Watchis one of the bestAndroid-based smartwatchesyou can get today, although it’s not without a few compromises. While the watch ticks the right boxes in terms of design, aspects like the exorbitant price tag and the subpar battery life left much to be desired. It now seems like there’s another negative aspect attached to the smartwatch — its lack of repairability.
There are multiple Redditthreads(1) (2) discussing how Google won’t replace a cracked screen, in addition to complaints on theGoogle support page. Meanwhile,The Vergewas able to access an excerpt of a customer’s conversation with Google support, wherein they’re told the company “doesn’t have any repair centers or service centers” for the Pixel Watch. Google, for its part, seems to have covered its tracks by specifying the exceptions on itshardware warranty page.
“At this moment, we don’t have any repair option for the Google Pixel Watch. If your watch is damaged, you can contact the Google Pixel Watch Customer Support Team to check your replacement options,” a spokesperson for the company told The Verge.
This contrasts with Google’s repairability policy forPixel smartphones, with customers being able to pick up replacement parts from iFixitsince last year. The Pixel Tablet also picked upofficial replacement partsand its own repair guide via iFixit earlier this week. So it’s truly mind-boggling that Google hasn’t made replacement parts available for the Pixel Watch, even though it’s been almost a year since it first launched.
So long story short, if you’ve got a Pixel Watch with a broken screen/glass, the only solution is to get a new one. However, this isn’t environmentally feasible and would only generate more electronic waste, contrary to thecompany’s own policies. This revelation comes as Google preps to unveil thePixel Watch 2next month, though its existence isnot particularly a secretat this point. With the smartwatch largely expected to feature the same design as its predecessor, it will be interesting to see if Google will make some changes to its repairability.
Google’s hand could be forced, though, thanks to California’sSenate Bill 244, more commonly called the Right-To-Repair Act.This legislationcompels electronics manufacturers to provide tools, documentation, and software support for devices sold above a certain price range. For instance, devices that cost more than $100 should have replacement parts made available for at least seven years, while devices valued at $50 or more need to offer parts for at least three years. New York and Minnesota are the only other states in the US to have a similar legislative framework in place for repairability.
Google Pixel Watch
We’ve waited for Google to make a watch for over a decade, and the Google Pixel Watch has finally arrived. The first Android smartwatch with Fitbit health tracking, the Pixel Watch aims to help you stay fit or get fit easily. Plus, Wear OS 3.5 brings us Google’s vision for a wearable UI and exclusive Wear OS apps for Google services, like Google Home.
