Google Pixel 9a teardown sheds light on repairability potential

The Google Pixel 9a was recently launched and is going on sale soon, but curious minds wasted no time looking inside. A teardown video by PBKreviews gives us a first glimpse at the phone’s internal layout and how easy, or difficult, it might be to fix common issues.

Getting into the Pixel 9a starts with applying heat to loosen the adhesive holding the plastic back plate. Once inside, a mix of good and not-so-good news awaits DIY repair enthusiasts.

One of the standout positives is screen replacement. If you crack your display, the teardown suggests it’s a relatively straightforward fix. You can heat the front, pry off the damaged screen, and access its connector cable without having to completely gut the phone. This is a welcome design choice, as screen damage is one of the most frequent smartphone repairs. Similarly, the rear camera lens cover can be replaced independently if damaged, avoiding a more complex disassembly.

However, replacing the battery looks like it could be a frustrating task. Google continues to use a pull tab system that, according to the teardown, isn’t very effective against the strong adhesive holding the battery. The tab is prone to breaking, forcing the use of isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the glue and careful prying, which always carries a risk when dealing with batteries.

Other potential repairs present hurdles too. The USB-C charging port, a common point of failure due to wear and tear, is soldered directly onto the main motherboard. The SIM card reader is also soldered. Fixing these components requires specialized micro-soldering skills, putting repairs beyond the reach of most users and typical repair shops.

Despite these challenges, many other components like the speakers, vibration motor, and buttons appear relatively standard to replace. Overall, the Pixel 9a seems to offer a mixed bag for repairability. While screen fixes are notably easier, the difficult battery removal and soldered ports prevent it from being a top scorer. PBKreviews gave the phone a repairability score of 7.5 out of 10.

You can check out the full video below:

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