In recent years, consumer electronic devices, including smartphones and smartwatches, have made great progress towards adopting a repairable design. Google’s Pixel Watch is the only outlier here, with a no-repair policy. If you break or damage your watch or it stops working, Google will only replace it, as repairs aren’t possible. Thankfully, the company will make amends with the Pixel Watch 4 this year.
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Plenty of room for improvement
Android Headlines reports that the Google Pixel Watch 4 “can actually be taken apart and serviced when needed.” It does not clarify exactly what kind of repairs will be possible. For instance, can the cover glass be replaced? Will Google offer display or battery replacements?
Whatever the case, any level of repairability on the Pixel Watch 4 would be a welcome improvement over its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 3. There were reports last year of Google finally thinking about making Pixel Watch repair-friendly, and it seems the company will take meaningful steps in that direction with its next smartwatch.
Apple offers both display cover glass and battery service options for the Apple Watch. Hopefully, Google will offer at least one of these repair options for the Pixel Watch 4 at a reasonable price. And ideally, it will be available in all markets where Google plans to sell the smartwatch, not just the US.
A non-repairable design allows Google to upsell its Preferred Care Program to Pixel Watch 3 owners. It offers protection against accidental damage and out-of-warranty issues for only an extra $49. But in markets where the program isn’t available, a damaged watch essentially becomes e-waste. You have no choice but to throw it and get a new one.
Pixel Watch 4’s repairable design will help reduce e-waste
Leaked renders reveal the Pixel Watch 4 will look almost the same as the current-gen model. So, it seems Google must have gone back to the drawing board and made internal changes to improve the watch’s repairability.
Google has already sent out invites for its next ‘Made by Google’ event on August 20, 2025. So, we just have to wait another month to learn more about the Pixel Watch 4’s potentially more repair-friendly design — unless leaks spoil Google’s surprise first.