Ron Amadeo
Here’s one of the improvements Google might want to look at for the Pixel Watch 2: better adhesive. Android Police saw a few reports of the back bezels of some Pixel Watches just falling off. A few posts on the PixelWatch subreddit feature photos of this phenomenon; several commentators say it happened to them too.
This certainly seems like something Google should cover under warranty, and since the device is less than a year old, everyone should be covered under warranty. You also have a strong argument if you contact Google support about a device that has fallen apart. The scary thing is that this also compromises the water resistance of the device, and we doubt that Google will cover any case of water damage. Most reports indicate that Google is fixing the problem, but a few users were initially threatened with a $300 repair fee, which was later waived.
Thanks to my excessive sweating (I believe) the glue on the back of my pixel watch has dissolved and the back has come off. pic.twitter.com/ltUQauXC4I
— SuperSanusi (@supersanusi) May 30, 2023
When iFixit broke down the Pixel Watch, it noted that the glue on the back was a new “liquid gasket” the site had never seen before. The report said: “The rear window appears to be held in place by some kind of liquid gasket that seals tightly but opens cleanly. It also peels off the glass with virtually no residue.” It sounds like Google’s nice glue is coming off a little too easily. Poorly adhering back bezels have also been a recent issue with Fossil watches, and in the “Gen 6” versions, Fossil acknowledged the issue and said it was resolved.
We all know that manufacturers like to build completely fastener-free smartphones, but it’s not uncommon to see visible screws on the back of a traditional watch. Some watches turn the entire back panel into a giant screw, with a threaded rim along the back, and the whole thing screws into the watch case. Perhaps a real closure would help the Pixel Watch.
