J
Jeff Causey
Guest
Although smartwatches should not be subject to typical smartphones risks like being dropped, they will still be subject to a host of new hazards like users accidentally bumping up against tables or counters, knocking them into sinks, and other not healthy for tech situations. Their small size should help them when it comes to durability, but inevitably some people will find their devices need to be repaired. To save a few dollars, some of those individuals will decide to undertake repairs themselves. The team over at iFixit has run a couple new Android Wear devices through their teardown process to get an idea of how hard or easy that may be.
First, the iFixit crew got their hands on an LG G Watch and proceeded to break it apart to see what makes it tick. Before cracking open the case, they did determine there is a reset button on the back side of the unit. To open the G Watch only required a T5 torx screwdriver making opening the unit a breeze. The battery is secured with a Phillips screw and minimal adhesive. The biggest challenge appears to be the display which requires some work to separate from the glue used to hold it in place. Despite the challenges with the screen, the rest of the device is pretty easy to access and has minimal fragile parts. This yielded a score of 9 out of 10 on iFixit’s scale for repairability.
The next device examined was the Samsung Gear Live, Samsung’s initial foray into an Android Wear powered device. It was noted that removal of the band on the Gear Live was slightly easier than typical watch bands including the one used for the G Watch. Removal of the back cover was similar to the G Watch, requiring only a T5 Torx screwdriver and a plastic opening tool to pry the front away from the back. The iFixit team did discover a couple surprises once inside. The Gear Live includes a WiFi antenna even though WiFi is not enabled on the device and Samsung has not said anything about WiFi features. The team also noted the liquid damage indicator inside the Gear Live, so you may not want to place a whole lot of faith in the IP67 water resistance rating. Unlike the G Watch, the Gear Live makes more use of glue to hold things in place inside the device, which means repairs will be a little more challenging. The screen is glued to the chassis which will make replacements rather costly according to iFixit. Overall, the Gear Live was rated an 8 out of 10 for repairability, a very good score even if not quite as good as the G Watch.
source: iFixit (G Watch), iFixit (Gear Live)
Come comment on this article: LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live get the iFixit teardown treatment
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