Google gained’t restore cracked Pixel Watch screens

When you crack the display screen on the Pixel Watch, getting it formally repaired by Google isn’t within the playing cards.

A number of Pixel Watch homeowners have vented their frustrations concerning the incapacity to interchange cracked screens, each on Reddit and in Google assist boards. The Verge has additionally reviewed an official Google assist chat from a reader who broke their Pixel Watch show after dropping the wearable. In it, a assist consultant states that Google “doesn’t have any restore facilities or service facilities” for the system.

“At this second, we don’t have any restore choice for the Google Pixel Watch. In case your watch is broken, you may contact the Google Pixel Watch Buyer Assist Staff to verify your alternative choices,” Google spokesperson Bridget Starkey confirmed to The Verge.

This Restricted Guarantee doesn’t apply to break brought on by: (1) regular put on and tear; (2) accidents; (3) misuse (together with failure to observe product documentation); (4) neglect; (5) disassembly; (6) alterations; (7) servicing apart from by Google-authorized technicians; and (8) exterior causes equivalent to, however not restricted to: liquid injury, publicity to sharp objects, publicity to extreme drive, anomalies within the electrical present equipped to the Google product, and excessive thermal or environmental circumstances.

That guarantee leaves homeowners on their very own to take care of injury brought on by drops or unintended strikes, and based on Google’s Retailer, there isn’t a choice for an prolonged guarantee to go together with a Pixel Watch. In case your Pixel Watch is by chance broken, that’s it.

That is even though a restore would technically be attainable. iFixit notes in its Pixel Watch teardown that whereas the display screen isn’t simply accessible, the watch itself holds promise for future repairability. The location additionally has an in depth how-to for changing a cracked, damaged, or lifeless display screen. Nevertheless, it’s unclear the place the common individual would supply a alternative half, particularly as Google doesn’t supply restore choices for the system. One commenter on the iFixit information suggests shopping for an intact Pixel Watch off eBay, however that solely appears mildly cheaper (and maybe extra wasteful) than shopping for a used or new Pixel Watch alternative.

That is troubling, contemplating the Pixel Watch incorporates a round domed glass show. Whereas it’s a beautiful design, it may be simply cracked for those who’re not cautious. Throughout our evaluation interval final 12 months, my colleague Chris Welch cracked his inside just a few days — regardless that he hadn’t achieved something out of the atypical or banged the system towards laborious surfaces. I’ve not skilled a crack regardless of dropping mine a number of instances, however our differing experiences are extra seemingly on account of luck than the rest.

Google shouldn’t be the one one responsible of constructing smartwatch repairs tough. Repairing an Apple Watch has traditionally been an costly and tough endeavor. For instance, with out AppleCare Plus, Apple cites a flat $299 estimate for a Sequence 8 and $499 for an Apple Watch Extremely. With AppleCare Plus, that worth drops to $69 for the Sequence 8 and $79 for the Extremely, not together with the price of AppleCare itself. That stated, a minimum of you can ship in an Apple Look ahead to restore, even when shopping for a brand new one could be more cost effective in the long term.

This isn’t nice, contemplating that Google is predicted to launch a brand new Pixel Watch 2 in October with what seems to be a virtually an identical design. The excellent news is that Google might not have a lot selection about this observe going ahead. Earlier this week, California handed a right-to-repair invoice that requires corporations to make alternative components for electronics out there for 3 years in the event that they value $50 and up, and 7 years for units costing $100 or extra.