Pixel Watch 5 Shines with Unbeatable Repairability Score
The Google Pixel Watch 5 has earned an impressive 9/10 repairability score from iFixit, making it one of the most fixable smartwatches on the market. Unlike many other wearables, which often become disposable after a cracked screen or dead battery, the Pixel Watch 5 can be easily repaired thanks to its mechanical design.
The watch's water seal is achieved through an O-ring gasket and screws, rather than adhesive, allowing technicians to access the vibration motor, motherboard, and battery with ease. Google has even colour-coded the screws for reassembly, a thoughtful touch that makes repairs more straightforward.
While display replacement is still a bit involved, requiring removal of a bracket and disconnecting a pressure connector, iFixit notes that Google could simplify this process in future revisions. The watch's hardware includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated chip paired with 3 GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64 GB of eMMC storage.
The Pixel Watch 5 starts at £369 in the UK, a £20 increase over its predecessor, but its repair infrastructure gives it a longer useful lifespan than many competitors. For right-to-repair advocates, the watch is a promising proof of concept that maintains IP water resistance without sacrificing serviceability.