Smartphones today are very complex products, which is why manufacturers have long discouraged or even disallowed owners from opening up theirs just to repair a single part. Most people probably don’t have the skills for that anyway, but the old policies also prevented small third-party businesses from offering more accessible repair services. That has been changing slowly, with more major phone makers finally allowing self-repair to some extent.
Of course, that all hinges on the availability of replacement parts, which isn’t that easy to come by when it comes to official components. Fortunately, the likes of Google have partnered with iFixit to actually sell the most critical parts, opening the doors further to self-repair or third-party services. That includes the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, though the replacement foldable screen might still be beyond most people’s reach.
A foldable phone probably has the most complex design among smartphones today, especially because of its flexible display panel. Unfortunately, that is probably the component that will break faster, which means it will be the one that will get replaced more often. Even more unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive parts of the phone.
The official Pixel 9 Pro Fold replacement screen being sold on iFixit is a prime example of that. Now available for anyone to purchase, the foldable screen alone costs $1,199.99. If it’s your first iFixit self-repair, you might want to buy the screen and a repair kit, setting you back $1,206.99 in total. It’s an eye-watering price tag, especially when you consider that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold itself already costs $1,799.
It doesn’t help that the process for repairing the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is, as expected, a bit convoluted and nerve-wracking for novices. Then again, that isn’t too surprising, given the young age of the technology and the rarity of available parts. Most owners probably won’t do the process themselves but iFixit and Google’s partnership will allow small businesses to thrive making repairs for these devices.
Despite those rather large hurdles, it’s still a significant step forward in making smartphones longer-lasting and more sustainable. There will be more options to get the Pixel 9 Pro Fold repaired, even if they’re pricey. It’s definitely a much better situation compared to the past where even opening up a smartphone on your own marks you for some legal trouble.
The post Pixel 9 Pro Fold replacement screen from iFixit arrives with a big caveat first appeared on Yanko Design.
With the Pixel 6 in 2021, Google embarked on a new design language and visual identity for its smartphones. Like it or not, and some definitely didn’t, the camera “visor” has become an identifying mark of the Pixel phones since then, something that no other brand dared to even try. It underwent a few refinements until it was finally replaced by the camera “bar” in this year’s Pixel 9. Some loved it, some despised it, and some even wanted to have the old visor back. It seems that Google isn’t done playing around with the design just yet if these early unofficial renders for next year’s “mid-release” Pixel phone. And if the Pixel 9a is any indicator of the direction that Google will take in the future, it’s bound to split camps yet again.
Designer: Google (via AndroidHeadlines and OnLeaks)
It’s not that hard to understand how divisive the Pixel camera design is. On the one hand, it is big, visible, and distracting, but on the other hand, it is executed elegantly, balances the phone on your desk, and gives your index finger something to rest on when holding the phone. What both camps will probably agree is that the camera visor or bar is an identifying mark of the Pixel phone, and it’s something the Pixel 9a might lack.
Based on the first CAD renders made from leaked information, the next mid-range Pixel phone will ditch the camera bar for a flatter design. Curiously, the cameras aren’t placed closer to the upper left corner of the phone’s back even without the bump, and it seems to be in the exact same position if it did have that bar. It’s almost as if Google just did a magic trick like pulling out the tablecloth from under the cameras, leaving them in the exact same place. At the same time, however, the camera island isn’t completely flush with the rest of the phone’s back as it has a raised lip around the oval, perhaps for protection. Whether it will make the wobble is something that can only be tested with an actual unit.
Other than that, the rest of the Pixel 9a’s design is pretty similar to the Pixel 9, down to having only two cameras on its back. The exact dimensions of the upcoming phone remain undisclosed, so we don’t know yet how bigger or smaller it is compared to the Pixel 9. The bezels around the display, however, do look a little thicker, giving it a less premium appearance overall.
The Pixel “a” series often carries the design from the same generation, so it would be surprising to see this big a change for the phone. It could also be Google’s strategy to further differentiate the Pixel 9a from the Pixel 9, giving it an aesthetic that definitely looks more “mid-range” than the flagship models. You can still see signs of the Pixel DNA if you look hard enough, but other than the position and orientation of the cameras, it’s almost too easy to pass the Pixel 9a over for some more visually interesting mid-tier phones.
The post Pixel 9a leaked renders look pretty barren without the distinctive camera bar first appeared on Yanko Design.
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