Google Is ‘Thinking Through’ How to Make the Pixel Watch Repairable

If you interruption the Google Pixel Watch—whether the first-generation smartwatch from 2022 oregon the latest model launched earlier this month—there is nary mode to repair it done authoritative channels. Instead, if you successfully marque a warranty claim, Google volition nonstop you a replacement unit alternatively of repairing your model. This deficiency of repairability highlights the company's inexperience in the smartwatch space. You tin instrumentality a breached Apple Watch to Apple to repair cracked glass oregon regenerate the battery, and the aforesaid is existent for Samsung's Galaxy Watches.

There's immoderate bully quality though. At a Climate Week NYC sheet focused connected repairable technology—hosted by Back Market and moderated by One5c—Nicole Azores, a manager of Government Affairs and Public Policy astatine Google, says the institution is reasoning done the plan of the Pixel Watch to marque it much repairable.

“Watches and wearables are inactive reasonably nascent and we are reasoning done however to marque this repairable," Azores said connected the panel. "We’re reasoning astir repairability connected a broader scale, not conscionable connected phones and tablets, and we privation to marque definite that each of our products yet go repairable. I deliberation watches being truthful caller arsenic a category, determination are immoderate plan elements that request to beryllium considered connected however we marque them repairable."

When Can You Fix It?

Azores did not supply immoderate further information, including a timeline. Consumer tech products typically person a two- to three-year improvement time. But it's unclear whether this much repairable model volition amusement up successful the Pixel Watch 4 adjacent year, oregon adjacent aboriginal than that. Google has stuck with the aforesaid plan for its Pixel Watch implicit the past 3 generations, though the Pixel Watch 3 launched successful 2 sizes for the archetypal time.

This is the archetypal clip the institution has publically commented connected the irreparability of its smartwatch. Until now, Google representatives person typically said the institution has thing to stock erstwhile repairability concerns are brought up.

The Pixel Watch is simply a latecomer successful the satellite of smartwatches, but the bundle it runs—Wear OS—has been astir for a decennary (formerly called Android Wear). Google managed the operating system, arsenic manufacturers similar Fossil and LG made the smartwatches themselves. That changed successful 2022, erstwhile Google released its precise ain smartwatch, pursuing its effort to jumpstart the waning platform alongside Samsung and Fitbit.

Google reportedly captured 8 percent of the wearable set marketplace share successful the 4th fourth of 2022, the timeframe of erstwhile the archetypal Pixel Watch launched. Research radical Canalys says the institution shipped 880,000 Pixel Watches successful that play (the remainder are Fitbit devices).

Just the Starting Point

Lack of repairability volition doom galore of these watches arsenic electronic waste to the landfill, which according to a caller UN clime report, has already reached a situation point. In 2022, determination were astir 137 cardinal pounds of e-waste, and lone little than a 4th was recycled. By 2030, e-waste is expected to turn by 33 percent, outpacing the recycling rate.

There are ongoing efforts to enforce repairability successful tech. Last year, the European Union passed regulations requiring smartphones and tablets to person longer-lasting batteries oregon easier methods for users to regenerate batteries utilizing communal tools opening successful June 2025. While it doesn't person to comply with this legislation, Apple's caller iPhone 16 debuted a caller adhesive that makes the battery wrong easier to remove,

Whether it's successful the Pixel Watch 4 oregon Pixel Watch 5, this plan alteration is simply a triumph for consumers. Now Google needs to absorption connected improving the repairability of Fitbit's wearables. Despite the prevalence of its trackers, the institution doesn't person any repair centers to nonstop your instrumentality successful for fixes.