Google Pixel 3a is easier to repair than Pixel 3, according to teardown

Teardown specialists iFixit have dismantled the Google Pixel 3a, finding that the mid-range device is easier to repair than the Google Pixel 3 flagship.

The website gave the Pixel 3a a repairability score of six out of 10, compared to the Pixel 3‘s four out of 10 score. Google’s latest phone also achieved a better score than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro (and tied with the iPhone XR).

iFixit praised the Pixel 3a’s use of “standard T3 Torx” screws, repair-friendly adhesive for the battery, and modular components. It wasn’t all rosy for the mid-range phone though, as the website criticized the number of long, thin ribbon cables, and the “thin and poorly supported” display. iFixit also confirmed that the phone’s so-called gOLED display is made by Samsung, and that the Pixel Visual Core chip is indeed missing.

Is the device worth buying though? Well, our own Dhruv Bhutani wrote that the phone was “definitely worth a recommendation” in his Google Pixel 3a XL review.

“If you find yourself playing a lot of games or pushing your phone’s hardware with a whole lot of apps, it’s hard to make a case for the Pixel 3a XL. For everyone else, Google finally has a really good option that gets you the core flagship experience at a fraction of the cost,” Dhruv said.

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