Pixel 3a XL Teardown! By iFixit

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 IMF 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 arena 615 GPU. Turning our attention to the bottom of the phone, we find the modular USB-C port, which is screwed in place, a Potter 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 Torn 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 too accidentally. Tear.

Source : iFixit