The Google Pixel Watch 2 is just a couple of months away. And as far as previous reports go, Google will offer some significant upgrades to the successor of its wearable device. But there’s one crucial factor Google needs to take a look at. And as you might have guessed after reading the title, the next watch needs better glue!
There have been a good number of reports revolving around the Google Pixel Watch. According to them, some of the watch units are randomly falling off. Some of the users have even shared photos sharing the phenomenon. In reality, the situation is not favorable for Google.
Google Pixel Watch Appears to Have One Major Design Issue
Needless to say, the Google Pixel Watch is not perfect. But you can not forget the fact that it is the first Wear OS smartwatch from Google. And if you do not look closely at its flaws, it is a great pick as one of the best Android smartwatches. Even the design of the wearable is exquisite.
On the note of the design, recent reports (1, 2, 3) show that the Google Pixel Watch has a reliability issue. Over the last few months, multiple users have reported that their watch has been randomly popping open. In other words, the back of the device would come open while the user was wearing it normally.
The good news is that Google has offered replacements for most of these reports. After all, this issue is something that easily falls under the warranty policy of the Pixel Watch. However, the concerning aspect is that the back shell coming off can undermine the device’s water resistance.
So, if you happen to use the device instead of contacting Google for a replacement, you might soon end up with a dead Pixel Watch. And there have been no reports of Google covering water damage.
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On the note of contacting Google, some users reported that Google initially asked for $300 to file a warranty claim. But the good part is Google has waived the fee later and offered replacements for free.
That said, the issue does not appear to be widespread. And it could likely be due to the device heating up while getting in contact with sweat. But the problem is still significant enough to warrant attention. Google should definitely prioritize the overall build quality of the Pixel Watch 2.
A Closer Look at the Google Pixel Watch’s Gasket
Examining iFixit’s teardown can provide a clearer understanding of the Google Pixel Watch’s construction. According to the team, the rear glass of the watch is held in place by a novel ‘liquid gasket’ that they had never seen before. To be exact, the report states, “The rear glass appears to be held in place b a kind of liquid gasket that seals tightly, but comes open clean.”
That is, the rear of the Google Pixel Watch is very easy to open. And the adhesive Google used does not leave any residue, which makes replacements very easy. But as per the recent reports, it seems that the adhesive comes off a little too easily.
On that note, Pixel Watch is not the first one to be reported for having poorly adhered back panels. There have been multiple reports revolving around Fossil watches too. Fossil even acknowledged the issue on its “Gen 6” and said they had fixed it.
Google’s Response
Like Fossil, Google has also acknowledged the issue revolving around the back panel of the Pixel Watch. A Google spokesperson sent along a statement stating, “We’re aware of a very small number of Google Pixel Watch users having an issue with the glass on the back….”
The spokesperson added that the team is working to identify the root cause and rectify the problem as soon as possible.
