New teardown suggests the Google Pixel 10 Pro might be the easiest phone to repair yet
A recent teardown reveals a device that's surprisingly user-friendly when it comes to fixes.
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Screencap from teardown video displaying the Pixel 10 Pro XL's battery removal. | Image credit — JerryRigEverything
What's the deal with the Pixel 10's repairability?
For the first time, the battery is also easily removable thanks to a simple green pull-tab system, a far cry from the glued-in batteries we've become accustomed to, and that Google has been so vehemently criticized for.
Key repair-friendly features:
- Free, detailed repair guide from Google
- Easy-to-remove screen
- User-accessible battery with pull-tabs
- Genuine replacement parts available from iFixit
Why does this matter?
Video Credit — JerryRigEverything
For years, manufacturers have been making phones progressively harder to repair. Apple, for example, has its own Self Service Repair program, but it’s a bit of a mess. While it provides access to genuine parts and manuals, the process is far more convoluted. Users often need to rent a massive, expensive toolkit for even simple repairs, and parts are often tied to a specific device's serial number, complicating things for independent repair shops.
This year, Google’s approach with the Pixel 10 seems more genuinely aimed at the user. By making the process straightforward and the necessary resources easily accessible, they are setting a new standard and is a major win for the right-to-repair movement. This phone is for anyone who's ever looked at a cracked screen and sighed, thinking about the expensive, time-consuming repair process ahead.
Good job, Google!
In my opinion, this is the direction the entire industry should be heading. The few times when I've needed it, I've held off on doing my own phone repairs because the process has always felt intimidating and risky.
However, this new approach that Google seems to be taking feels different. The pull-tab for the battery is such a simple, yet brilliant, idea that it's amazing it's not standard everywhere. It's a practical, sustainable approach that respects the consumer's right to fix their own stuff, and that’s a feature worth having.
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