Google launched the Pixel Watch 3 just a little over a week ago, and while the device doesn’t bring a drastic new design as some might have been hoping for, there’s a second size for the first time in the lineup and a selection of new software features to improve your daily experience.
However, while it does come with a few things to set it apart from the previous watches, the very similar design should clue you in on the fact that some things remain the same. One of those, unfortunately, is that the Google Pixel Watch 3 cannot be repaired. It can only be replaced.
You Will Need To Get A Replacement Google Pixel Watch 3 If Anything Happens To It
Big tech companies are having a good time building ecosystems around their smartphones, making it natural to see a Pixel Watch or Pixel Buds as the best accessories to pair with a Google Pixel smartphone. For the most part, that tends to be valid. So, as a Pixel user, you might feel a strong pull towards the Google Pixel Watch 3 that was just announced — in fact, you might use a phone from another manufacturer and still want it.
However, before you pull the trigger on getting that new smartwatch, there’s one piece of info you might want to keep by your side. If your Google Pixel Watch 3 gets damaged, you’re going to need to have it replaced. Yep, that’s right. The Google Pixel Watch 3 can’t be repaired and you’ll need to look through the replacement options that Google provides you.
This was discovered through a query that Android Authority sent to Google, to which they received the following response:
If your device is damaged, you can contact the Google Pixel Watch Customer Support Team to check your replacement options.
To be sure that meant that the smartwatch was entirely non-repairable, confirmation was requested and the Google rep confirmed that the device is truly replacement only.
The Google Pixel Watch And Pixel Watch 2 Were Similarly Non-Repairable
The worst part is that this is not necessarily a new thing for the major tech company. The Google Pixel Watch 2 couldn’t be repaired and neither could the original Pixel Watch either. No matter which Pixel Watch you have, it will have to be replaced instead of being repaired.
It shouldn’t be much of a surprise as the watches have retained what is essentially the same design over the years, so there’s been very little change to its unrepairable structure.
For A Company Trying To Be Environmentally-Friendly, The Pixel Watch Situation Is Hypocritical
Think about it for a second. Let’s say the screen for your Google Pixel Watch 3 gets cracked. You take it in for repairs, but you’re told that you’ll get a replacement model instead. What happens to the old one? Since it can’t be repaired, it’s not like Google will fix it up and sell it as a refurbished unit. That leaves just one fate, which is the landfill. That’s a quick route to becoming e-waste.
This is particularly sad because, with all the recently released devices, Google has been relatively loud about how the packaging of these devices is plastic-free. They’re trying to take one environmentally-friendly step, but they’ve been taking several steps backward with unrepairable devices.
