Repairing the Pixel 11: what the first teardowns show

The YouTube channel PBKreviews took the Pixel 11 apart shortly before it went on sale. In its repairability rating, the device scores 8.5 points. The scale goes up to ten, and the screen got full marks.

For the larger Pixel 11 Pro XL, Zack Nelson of the JerryRigEverything channel reaches a similar verdict. He counts it among this year's phones that are easiest to repair, and in his video the screen and battery are each out within a few minutes.

We have not yet found an iFixit rating for the Pixel 11. The scores above come from videos by individual channels and don't follow a uniform testing procedure, so they are a good indication but not yet a verdict.

For you, easy to open mainly means that there are fewer steps where something can go wrong. The fewer components are in the way when opening it, the smaller the risk of damaging a cable or the frame.

As on the predecessor, the battery sits in the device with a pull tab that lets you pull it out. In the PBKreviews rating it scores slightly lower than the screen, but it is also easy to reach.

How much the repair costs for your device depends on the damage and the spare part. After the diagnosis you get a quote. We only repair once you agree.

Inside, the new model is almost identical to its predecessor. The main logic board sits at the top, the large battery below it and a small board with the USB-C port at the bottom, and according to the teardown this layout has hardly changed.

What's new is mainly the chip, now called Tensor G6, and a slightly changed main camera. The steps for opening it are therefore largely the same as on the Pixel 10.

Even so, spare parts can't simply be swapped between the two models. The battery has a new type designation, and the front camera cable is routed differently. That is why we always go by the exact model.

On current Pixel models, the fingerprint sensor sits under the screen. On the Pixel 10, it is part of Google's original replacement screen, so it is renewed along with the screen.

After installation, a calibration may be needed so that the new sensor works properly. Google provides an online tool for this. You then register your fingerprints again yourself, because only your finger can do this step.

For the Pixel 11, we expect the same process, because the design is almost identical. This hasn't been confirmed for the new model yet, so we will tell you exactly during the diagnosis. Why some components need to be paired again after a replacement is explained in the article about parts pairing.

A Pixel 11 is at most a few months old and therefore still under Google's warranty. It covers defects in materials and workmanship. Drop damage is usually not included.

If the screen shows stripes without having been dropped, or the battery weakens noticeably early, Google is therefore the right first point of contact. A cracked screen after a drop, on the other hand, is a typical case for an independent repair.

If you are unsure which case applies to you, we look at the device before anything is opened. The diagnosis is free, even if you decide against the repair afterwards.