iFixit gvies Pixel 4 XL poor rating, but impressed by how small Soli radar is - Android

Venerable electronics repair site iFixit just published its Google Pixel 4 XL teardown. As usual, the teardown summary gives us a look at how easy — or in this case, difficult — the phone is to repair as well as some insight into the inner workings of the device.

Google Pixel devices have never been known for their ease of repairability, and the Pixel 4 XL is no different. iFixit gave it a 4/10 repairability score, criticizing how tricky it will be for technicians to reach certain aspects of the phone. However, it did commend Google on its use of one type of screw throughout the whole device, which is a nice touch.

The most interesting aspect of the Google Pixel 4 XL teardown, though, is the Soli radar system embedded in the top bezel. This inert square seems impossibly small for what it does, namely push out precisely tuned waves of electromagnetic energy to then interpret fluctuations in that energy when you wave your hand in front of it.

Check out just how tiny the sensor is here:

iFixit

Everything that Motion Sense can do now or will be able to do in the future all happens because of that teeny, tiny piece of metal.

The Google Pixel 4 XL teardown also confirms that Samsung produced the device’s display. This isn’t too surprising as many other manufacturers — including Apple — use Samsung displays. However, Google is known to use LG most of the time, so it’s a little bit interesting that Samsung is used here. It’s also interesting to note that the display is capable of 90Hz refresh rates, yet there is no Samsung-branded smartphone with that feature yet.

Related: Google Pixel 4 XL review: Untapped potential

The display, unfortunately, is the hardest aspect of the Pixel 4 XL to repair. Any display fixes will require a technician to dismantle the entire phone, which is a big part of why the device’s repairability score is quite low.

Click here to read iFixit’s full synopsis of the Google Pixel 4 XL teardown. Click the button below to buy yourself a Pixel 4.

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