Google and iFixit team up to offer Pixel parts online

iFixit has signed an agreement with Google to make Pixel repairs easier. iFixit.com will start selling original Google parts individually and in kits later this year. Both companies have published blog posts about the collaboration.

Google says parts will be offered for “Pixel 2 through Pixel 6 Pro and future Pixel models in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and EU countries where the Pixel is available.”iFixit is the leading site for consumers looking for device parts and repair instructions, and will soon sell Pixel screens, batteries, cameras and more. If you don’t want to repair the phone yourself, Google indicates that it also has authorized repair agreements with uBreakiFix in the US and Canada and “similar partnerships with support providers in Canada, Germany, Japan and the UK.””

Google’s deal with iFixit follows a similar deal with Samsung, which also plans to offer smartphone parts through a repair site. Samsung’s partnership with iFixit begins this summer and only covers the S20, S21 and Tab S7+, though Samsung says it wants to expand the program over time. Google’s agreement with iFixit covers everything from the 2017 Pixel 2, which is surprising given that many earlier Pixel models were made in collaboration with Android makers like LG or HTC. Apple is also tapping into the do-it-yourself repair market with its own aftermarket parts service.

Google says that “improving maintainability is an important way to extend the life and usefulness of your phone.”If that’s the company’s goal, we hope Google extends the lifespan of Pixel phones by offering longer upgrade times. Currently, Pixel phones get major OS updates for just three years, while Samsung offers four years and Apple offers six.