Google Made Pixel XL 2 Even Harder to Repair Than Last Year’s Model
Smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung don’t want you to repair their devices yourself (that’s what the protection plan is for ), and Google appears to be no different. A breakdown of the recently released Pixel XL 2 reveals that it’s actually harder to fix than last year’s Pixel XL, thanks to one key difference: the battery.
Hard-to-repair battery for Pixel XL 2
The Pixel XL 2 no longer has sticky tabs that make it easy to remove the phone’s built-in battery for repair, according to gadget repair experts at iFixit . The Pixel XL had these tabs, and Apple still uses them for the iPhone 8 Plus , so it’s unclear why Google removed them.
As a result, the Pixel XL 2 scored one point lower than last year’s Pixel XL on the iFixit maintainability scale, scoring a 6 out of 10. That’s the same score as the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and Apple definitely doesn’t. these devices are easy to repair yourself.
Why is Google deliberately making repairs difficult?
Google obviously didn’t say why it changed the way it builds its smartphones. There may be a real advantage to ditching these sticky labels, but it’s more likely that the company is forcing customers to pay for their new Preferred Care protection plan instead.
Preferred Care costs $ 129 and covers you for two years, although there is a deductible for accidental damage from drops and spills ($ 79 for the Pixel 2 and $ 99 for the Pixel XL 2). It’s not a bad deal, and should give you some peace of mind if you’re going to be using your new phone for two years or longer. It’s just a shame that Google seems to be taking a step in the wrong direction by supporting this new service.