Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold is repairable – with restrictions
The repair specialists at iFixit have disassembled the new Foldable. This is easier than with other such devices, but still far from perfect.
The unfolded Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
(Image: Google)
Since mid-2024, Google has been running an initiative to make its devices easier to repair, and now the company is also showing that it is serious about this with a device that is less suitable for this. With its Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google has improved many aspects of the foldables, which are very prone to errors due to their display. Even iFixit was unable to remove this component, the screen, without destroying it – However, Google also offers it as a replacement part.
This has always been a demand of iFixit, which campaigns for the right to repair. The company has also terminated cooperation agreements with companies such as Samsung when they have changed their terms in a way that is hostile to customers. However, iFixit has entered into a partnership with Google, partly because the company is now also making the comprehensive repair instructions for technicians (the so-called service manuals) publicly accessible. Together with spare parts, you only need the right tools to get started.
The battery won't come out on its own
And a second person is also needed for one point: a single technician was unable to make any progress with one of the most common repairs, namely replacing the battery. Although the glued power storage unit has two permanently attached tabs to lift it, these are too small to apply the necessary force. So small levers had to be used. These are actually to be avoided at this point so as not to damage the battery.
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iFixit found other elements, such as the mainboard and the cameras, easier to access. The USB-C port is also not soldered and is comparatively easy to replace on a separate module. In general , the technicians praised the modularity of the device and the uniform screws. The CT scan, which is standard in these analyses, also revealed that the optical image stabilizer stabilizes the lens and not the sensor, as Apple does, for example.
iFixit has not yet awarded a score for the repairability of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Just to give you an idea: the Google Pixel Fold from 2023 only has a score of 3 on a scale of 0 to 10.
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