Google Pixel 7 Pro owners report of mischievous volume buttons

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have been heralded as a return to form for the Pixel series, with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro proving a rocky return to flagship smartphones for Google. While the company's latest flagships stand up well against their peers, reports have been stacking up of a peculiar hardware issue with some Pixel 7 Pro units. Seemingly, the cheaper Pixel 7 is not afflicted with the same issue.

For some reason, volume buttons have started falling off, less than four months after Google shipped Pixel 7 Pro pre-orders. The cause of this problem is unknown at this stage; there is nothing special about how Google secures the button in the Pixel 7 Pro's case. However, only plastic clips hold the button in place, which could be a point of failure.

People's mileage has varied with Google's customer support teams too. According to several reports, Google has refused to repair the buttons under warranty, citing cosmetic damage and improper usage. Conversely, others have been offered a free repair, although this requires sending the device to a repair centre. Reportedly, pushing the button back into place works in some cases, but it then sits looser in the case than it does from the factory. Currently, it is unclear how widespread the defect is, nor has Google commented on the matter.

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