Pixel Watch 5 Leaves the Latch Unlocked for Simple Repairs

Most smartwatches get glued shut, live a short life, and then sit in a drawer. Google’s Pixel Watch 5 still refuses that fate. iFixit’s teardown team opened the 45 mm model and handed it a provisional 9 out of 10 on the smartwatch repairability scale, the same mark last year’s Pixel Watch 4 earned, with a few small changes that make the job even clearer once you are inside.

Opening the case feels more like servicing a dive watch than taking apart a little phone. Interior latches are released with two Torx screws, the rear sensor glass is removed, and reusable O-ring gaskets replace a smear of adhesive for water resistance. IP68 and 5 ATM certifications remain in place since the seals provide the function that glue typically accomplishes. You don’t need a heat gun to get started. You’ll need a driver, some patience, and the knowledge not to lose a screw on the carpet.

The most common type of repair is battery replacement, and Google has simplified that process. After the latches are removed, a few green screws guide you toward the vibration motor and ultimately the cell itself. The color coding is new to this generation. The 45 mm watch has a 465 mAh battery, which is 2.2 percent higher than last year’s 455 mAh unit, and the printed face of the battery even directs you to Google’s repair hub if you stumble in without a plan. Pull the connector, lift the cell, and the exhausted battery work is complete. iFixit has already produced a guide specifically for this exchange.

Screen work takes longer, but you still have a removable display and a gasket that can be replaced while the casing is open, which is important because those rings wear. Before the panel can be removed, you must first remove several screws of various lengths, a bracket, and a press connector. According to iFixit, that procedure is the only spot where a future Pixel Watch may become simpler. The site already has guides for the screen, back sensor glass, battery, and vibration motor, so you won’t have to guess based on a paused video.

The mainboard is mounted within the chassis using a single screw and a press connector on the reverse side. LTE variants feature a small antenna pogo pin on the edge. Drop that pin, and you’ll be on your knees for the rest of the afternoon. The hardware around that board has been upgraded: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Accelerated platform, 64 GB of storage, and 3 GB of memory. Google claims a 20% speed increase over Pixel Watch 4. None of the additional silicon comes in the way of disassembling the watch.
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