Pixel Watch 5 teardown results in another rare rating from iFixit

According to the latest teardown video from iFixit, the Google Pixel Watch 5 very much retains the repair-friendly approach introduced with last year’s Pixel Watch 4, which received a 9/10 repairability rating. Rather than sealing the device shut with adhesive like most competing smartwatches, Google again uses a latch-and-o-ring system reminiscent of dive-watch construction, allowing the sensor glass to be removed with just two screws. This design allows users to reach the battery, vibrator motor and mainboard without extensive disassembly.

The newer model introduces a few incremental refinements and upgrades. Color-coded screws now guide users toward the next disassembly step, while the battery itself has grown slightly to 465 mAh in the 45mm version, translating to a 2.2% increase over the previous generation. The watch also gets a faster Qualcomm chip, namely the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated platform, as well as 3GB LPDDR4 RAM and 64GB eMMC storage. Removing the display is a little more complex, requiring several screws, a bracket and a press connector, with iFixit suggesting that this step could be simplified.

Overall, iFixit awards the Pixel Watch 5 a provisional repairability score of 9/10, matching its predecessor. Google’s provision of repair manuals and spare parts further supports the device’s repair-focused design. Viewers should note, however, that iFixit does have a business relationship with Google, which it discloses at the end of the video, commenting that it is nevertheless "hopelessly biased in favor of repairable products."