Google Pixel Watch 4 has something you might never suspect, teardown reveals

While the AirPods Pro 3 are among the most unrepairable products on the market, the story seems to take a 180-degree flip in the case of Google's Pixel Watch 4. The smartwatch that arrived alongside the Pixel 10 series earlier this year is being called the most repairable smartwatch on the market.

That's according to the repair manual website, iFixit, which regularly publishes teardowns of popular devices and assigns them a repairability score. It has published a short teardown video of the Pixel Watch 4, revealing all the design updates Google has made to make its smartwatch more repair-friendly and "designed for service."

For starters, the Pixel Watch 4 has a repairability score of 9 out of 10. It features new screws on its chassis for quick access to the internals. These are complemented by tiny O-rings that help seal the watch and contribute to its IP68 rating.

Google has done a smart use of screws inside the watch by giving them multiple jobs. The screws on the chassis operate an internal hinge mechanism to create a seal on the outer edge of the rear glass sensor. Similarly, the vibration motor screws double up as screws for the battery.

The battery comes out quickly without applying any heat. Google has also used screws to secure the screen and sealed it with an O-ring gasket, which is replaceable and available for sale, according to the website.

Such gaskets have long been used to secure traditional dive watches. However, they can be a tricky business for square-shaped smartwatches, which is not the case with the Pixel Watch 4. The website notes that Google has put a brand-new design architecture under the hood without changing the exterior look.

Pixel Watch 4 features a screw-based construction, minimal use of adhesive, an accessible battery, and a replaceable gasket. "Honestly, this is the most satisfying smartwatch teardown I’ve ever done. No heat mats. No shattered glass. No hidden traps. Just a thoughtful design that seems built to be repaired," the presenter said.

Overall, Google has pulled a big feat considering older Pixel Watch models barely reached a repairability score of five. Google has published full repair manuals for the 45mm and 41mm Pixel Watch 4 models, but without the schematics. The search giant is expected to follow up with replacement batteries and screens.