Google Pixel supports Right to Repair bill, calls for ‘parts assemblies’ over lone components

One of the last Pixel announcements of 2023 was the launch of a Diagnostic App and repair manuals . The company today endorsed a proposed Right to Repair bill in Oregon and published a white paper explaining its position with the Pixel as an example. The “ Google & Repairability ” white paper suggests “core principles” that lawmakers should keep in mind when writing regulations.

(Amusingly, there is a reference to Project Ara , Google’s “modular smartphone investigation.”) The top guideline is how “user safety should be a top priority”: Instead of requiring OEMs to make available “individual components,” Google wants to offer “parts assemblies.” For the Pixel 8 Pro , there’s a “rear facing camera assembly” and “rear case assembly.” That $172.99 back consists of several parts that are joined together out of the box for a more straightforward install process, though this does increase the price: Image credit: iFixit Meanwhile, Google comes out against “unfair anti repair practices,” like parts pairing , and already offers a fingerprint calibration tool : The company is also against being “required to provide any passwords, security codes or materials to override security features on devices,” and points to its Repair Mode .

Google says the Oregon proposal “offers a compelling model for other states to follow,” and that it would prefer standardized regulations on a country level over piecemeal approaches. Ultimately, Google says the “ability to repair a phone, for example, empowers people by saving money on devices while creating less waste.”.