First Apple and then Samsung jumped to Right to Repair and now we have a new passenger. Google announced on Friday that it works with iFixit to offer genuine repair parts and drivers for the Pixel 2 to 6 (including Pro models). Google says this partnership will provide spare parts to both independent repair shops and “specialist consumers”, which means anyone can waltz in the iFixit store, buy a Pixel 4 XL battery and replace it themselves. of, if he feels comfortable. So. The company and iFixit will sell spare parts individually or with kits that include the necessary tools to perform a repair. When available, Google says it will sell cameras, monitors, batteries and more. IFixit Pixel Repair Kits will include the following components: If you replace a hardware fingerprint scanner, Google provides free calibration software here. Also, if you can identify all the things in this list above, you probably have the qualifications to do your own Pixel repair. The iFixit announcement notes that iFixit has been working with Google for five years to make Pixel phones more repairable, which would explain how this partnership extends to the 2017 Pixel 2. Neither Google nor iFixit has set release dates for spare parts, noting that they will be available “later this year” in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and EU countries where Pixels are available. Google is joining a growing list of leading manufacturers with a view to repair principles. Samsung announced a similar partnership recently, Apple also announced a spare parts program for the iPhone last year, Valve will be selling Steam Deck parts in a few months, and iFixit says Microsoft has even designed the new Xbox consoles to be more repairable.
Analysis: the consumer wins
This is good news for consumers and the environment. After years of pressure from Right to Repair teams (and frustrated consumers), we are finally seeing more companies move to bigger sustainability initiatives. The partnership between Google and iFixit seems to be very open, with iFixit keeping official guides available, free of charge to anyone wishing to dive into their device. Google is already partnering with uBreakiFix, an independent electronics repair chain for in-house and out-of-warranty repairs. Google, however, is no stranger to sustainability programs like this. In February, Google announced the Chromebook Repair Program, which encourages schools to seek out and teach simple repairs to IT departments and students. The company noted that this will reduce repair time and teach a valuable skill to students. ChromeOS Flex has also recently entered beta and allows users to install ChromeOS on any machine to extend its lifespan. Aimed at older devices, as ChromeOS is lighter on system resources than Windows and Mac OS. Extending the life of old systems and devices with lightweight operating systems and easily accessible repair programs seems like more tangible steps than removing accessories (such as chargers) from new products.
