if you've been in the market for one of google's pixel phones but haven't wanted
to spend $800 we might have some good news for you meet the pixel 3a XL the
479 dollar version of the pixel phone this pixel is the same camera as the
pixel 3 but has a slower processor no IP rating and lacks wireless charging but
will these cost-cutting measures affect the pixel 3a excels repairability
there's only one way to find out and that's to tear it down
getting into the pixel 3 Axl was simple enough the adhesive holding the display
gave way pretty easily along the sides but we did need to use some heat along
the top and the bottom of the phone lifting the display up reveals the cable
connecting the display to the motherboard is under a black sticker and
secured by a screwed in cable bracket this is a six inch OLED display with a
resolution of 1080 by 2160 and a pixel density of 402 pixels per inch we've got
16 screws holding the mid frame in place and even with those removed we need to
use our pics to pop the mid frame out finally we're able to disconnect the
battery and a few more cables and just like that the rear camera comes out the
pixel 3a XL uses a 12 point two megapixel camera with the same Sony IMX
363 sensor found in the pixel 3 meaning you've got one of the best reviewed cell
phone cameras on the market in a phone looks less than $500 that's pretty
remarkable there's one sphere securing the motherboard but before we can lift
it out we also need to pry up the two brackets straddling either side of the
battery to complicate matters a little more the second bracket has antenna
cables routed through it and those cables are connected to the underside of
the motherboard with the motherboard out we can take a look at the chips that
power this phone on the board we spot that Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor
with adreno 615 GPU turning our attention to the bottom of the phone we
find the modular USB C port which is screwed in place a dotter board which is
home to a microphone and the speaker lastly we're left with a battery which
is thankfully held in place with adhesive tabs making its removal as
this battery is a fourteen point two four watt hour battery which is a slight
increase over the pixel three xl's thirteen point two watt hour battery
with our pixel 3a Excel disassembled it's time to talk repairability the
pixel 3a Excel scored a six out of ten and here's why
on the upside most components are modular and can be easily replaced once
the display assembly is removed repair friendly stretch release adhesives
secure the battery the only screws are standard key three Torx fasteners the
display comes off first but it's thin and poorly supported foam adhesive makes
the opening process relatively easy but on the downside the myriad long thin
ribbon cables connecting the internal component tree can be obnoxious to work
around and are easy to accidentally tear