Don’t drop your Pixel Watch. Simply don’t, as a result of should you do, Google gained’t provide any sort of assist fixing it in case your display cracks or the watch breaks in every other means. Google has lastly made it clear Pixel Watch customers’ are on their very own in the event that they by accident crack the display on their Pixel Watch. Not solely is there no possibility for at-home restore, however Google itself doesn’t have any restore facilities, service facilities, or components accessible to repair the corporate’s premiere smartwatch.
The Verge was the primary to verify that Pixel Watch homeowners’ best worry seems to be true. A Google spokesperson instructed the outlet that “at this second,’ there are not any restore choices for a Google Pixel Watch. In case your watch will get broken, you’ll need to contact Pixel Watch Buyer Help for a possible alternative.
When shopping for a watch by means of the Google Retailer, there’s no prolonged safety possibility past the usual 12-month restricted guarantee. The language of that guarantee notes that the guarantee doesn’t cowl regular put on and tear, accidents, misuse, neglect, disassembly, alterations, or servicing by anyone however a Google technician—which, to reiterate, doesn’t at the moment exist. In essence, your choices for first-party restore of a Pixel Watch are someplace between zip and nadda.
Gizmodo didn’t discover any apparent points with the Pixel Watch’s sturdiness in our evaluate, however that doesn’t imply accidents can’t occur. The waterfall design to the entrance display means there’s doubtlessly much less safety for the display throughout a tumble. Customers on Google’s help discussion board have requested about assist with their watch face after they observed it was cracked, however they have been instructed their solely possibility was to buy a brand new watch or undergo their bank card firm for a refund.
It comes simply days after Google began providing restore kits for the Pixel Pill by means of iFixit. Final 12 months, Google introduced restore kits for its Pixel telephones going again all the way in which to the Pixel 2, and despite the fact that it’s been practically a 12 months for the reason that Pixel Watch first launched, we’ve seen neither conceal nor hair of any official buyer help. We reached out to Google to see if the corporate has any plans for restore choices sooner or later, however we didn’t instantly hear again.
The shortage of help comes as increasingly U.S. states have handed particular person right-to-repair legal guidelines. New York requires corporations to make diagnostic and restore info accessible for its units. California’s legislature simply this week handed staggering new laws that might require system makers to offer components, services, and documentation to restore their electronics. California’s invoice nonetheless wants Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, and it’ll take time for the legislation to enter impact, however as of now, Google appears to be lagging behind supporting its newest wearable in comparison with its different tech.
As The Verge was first to level out, iFixit’s personal teardown of the Pixel Watch does appear to point out customers can take away the display with out an excessive amount of fuss after heating the adhesive and prying the display from the physique. Nonetheless, there’s no actual solution to supply a brand new display to exchange the outdated, damaged one.
Google may be asserting a Pixel Watch 2 later this 12 months on the identical time it exhibits off its new Pixel 8 telephones throughout an Oct. 4 occasion. The Watch 2 may have higher battery life and extra Fitbit-like options, however all indicators level to the subsequent watch being a comparatively small iteration on the primary launch. Any new watch may positively profit from a extra thorough restore program, or maybe a redesign to make the display not really easy to scratch or break.
