Pixel Watch 5 Demonstrates Good Repairability

Although we often find ourselves drowning in a seemingly unending sea of portable devices that are effectively e-waste once an internal component gives out, it’s good to remind ourselves that …. Pixel Watch 5 Demonstrates Good Repairability. Although we often find ourselves drowning in a seemingly unending sea of portable devices that are effectively e-waste once an internal component gives out, it’s good to remind ourselves that there are a few examples out there by large brands that manage to tick all the fancy feature boxes, while still being very much repairable.

Case in point the Pixel Watch 5, a smart watch which much like its predecessor gets a 9/10 on [iFixit]’s repairability score. No heat gun required, just undo the latch on the side of the watch. Despite featuring an IP68 rating, opening it is as easy as taking out a few screws to release its latch.

This allows the back to swing open, with not a drop of glue in sight, just an O-ring gasket that keeps moisture out and can be reused many times. Digging into the guts, there are color-coded screws that guide one’s hand as the very modular design is taken apart in a matter of minutes. Being able to simply unlatch the back, and also easily obtain spare parts are two aspects that are a very welcome sight indeed.

Although it’s much easier to just glue everything together, something like this latch-and-gasket approach is something that we hope that more manufacturers will copy for these small devices.