Mountain View | May 14, 2025 – Google’s Pixel 9a, the company’s latest budget-friendly smartphone, is earning positive reviews for performance and affordability—but a recent teardown video raises serious concerns about the device’s long-term repairability, particularly when it comes to battery replacement.
The teardown, published by popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, highlights that while the Pixel 9a holds up well in durability tests, the battery is nearly impossible to safely remove—a surprising drawback in a phone promised to receive seven years of software updates.
A Solid Device Undermined by One Critical Flaw
In the teardown, the Pixel 9a’s plastic back, metal frame, and Gorilla Glass 3 display all fared as expected in scratch and durability tests. Even the mesh covering the speaker was noted as a minor weak point but not a dealbreaker.
However, the teardown took a turn when it came to the battery. Google appears to have used a large amount of industrial-strength glue to secure the battery, making removal a challenge that carries a safety risk for both technicians and users. The video demonstrates the battery becoming slightly deformed during the removal process, even after the application of isopropyl alcohol—a common method used to loosen adhesive in phones.
A Wider Problem Across Pixel Devices
While Google has long relied on adhesive for battery placement, the Pixel 9a is seen as an especially difficult case. In comparison, the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s battery was removed with relatively minimal damage using the same technique. Earlier models like the Pixel 7a also posed challenges, but teardown experts suggest the Pixel 9a is more resistant to battery servicing than its predecessors.
Long-Term Concerns Amid Extended Support Promise
With Google now offering seven years of Android OS and security updates, consumers are likely to hold on to their devices longer. That makes battery replacements inevitable, yet the Pixel 9a’s design could make that task both difficult and risky. Critics argue that the use of strong adhesives contradicts Google’s sustainability goals and user-focused update policies.
Advocates for the right to repair have called for clearer industry standards around replaceable components, especially for products expected to have longer life cycles.
Google has not yet responded to the teardown video or the concerns it raises.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
