Photography: Simon Hill
Imperfect pixel
What’s particularly outrageous about this lack of repair options is that Google knows how to handle this properly. If your Pixel breaks, there’s a good chance you can get it fixed.
“Repair options include mail-in service, walk-in repairs at authorized locations, and even do-it-yourself repairs with official parts and guides provided by our partner iFixit,” Nickel told WIRED in an email. “Our repair support site, located hereis the best entry point to receive support.”
You can get original parts for the Pixel 2 through the new Pixel 8A at iFixit. If you’re not familiar, iFixit Website is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to repair their devices. It offers parts, repair kits, and video tutorials, and the company consults with many of the major manufacturers, including Microsoft, Fairphone, Logitech, HP, and Lenovo, to make their devices easier to repair.
Currently, iFixit offers official parts for devices from Google, HTC, Fairphone, Motorola, Teenage Engineering, Vaude, and Valve, among others. However, the repair company recently Ended his partnership with Samsung due to a lack of follow-up by the electronics giant, although iFixit still offers repair kits for Samsung devices.
Apple keeps a tight lid on its repairs and fiercely resists providing proper support to unapproved third-party repair shops or amateur home repairs, though it has recently ceded some ground when it comes to iPhone parts. Regardless, iFixit also offers kits for many Apple devices. Still, Apple will at least repair your broken devices, even if it charges a premium.
Nickel says Google offers replacement parts to DIY support partners, such as iFixit, when possible, and hopes to improve the repairability of its devices, though this appears to be driven by legislationWhile the right-to-repair movement has gained some ground, the impact of federal legislation in the US and UK remains to be seen, and tech companies continue to resist, making what many activists see as minimal efforts.