The Pixel Watch 4 is the most repairable smartwatch around

Google’s Pixel Watch 4 might look familiar, but the way it’s built is new, as iFixit’s teardown calls it the most repairable smartwatch they’ve tested.

The watch scored a provisional 9 out of 10 because of its screws, gaskets and easy access instead of glue.

Battery removal takes a couple of screws, the display sits behind a replaceable O-ring, and the whole rear-entry design keeps water resistance while letting you get inside.

What’s changed inside

Most smartwatches hide behind sealed cases that crack or stretch if you try to service them. Here, the screws each have tiny O-rings, so you keep the seal and still reach the parts. The vibration motor uses sturdy pogo pins instead of delicate flex cables. 

The battery steps up in capacity and lifts out without heat or solvents. Even the display follows that screw and gasket approach, which means a future screen swap should be straightforward if parts are available. Put simply, this is a watch planned for repairs rather than patched around them.

Repairable doesn’t have to mean bulky or fragile. When a battery or screen ages out, being able to swap it with basic tools is the difference between keeping your watch and buying a new one, creating waste in the process. And it lets you hold on to the setup you already like instead of starting from scratch.

This approach is refreshing to see and still quite rare, especially for smaller devices like this. Serviceable parts, fewer nasty adhesives, and clear manuals make ownership less throwaway. If other makers match this approach, we all win.

In our Pixel Watch 4 review, we said, “The Pixel Watch 4 is undoubtedly the best Google wearable to date; it perfects the sleek, dome-shaped design, offers a unique take on Wear OS 6 with Material 3 Expressive, Fitbit-powered fitness tracking and excellent battery life.”