Folding telephones are the chopping fringe of cell tech, and usually the costliest gadgets of their respective traces. So it’s no shock {that a} restore for that fancy folding display screen would price a reasonably penny. However in keeping with a brand new vendor, the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s major display screen prices a whopping $1,199.99 USD. That’s two-thirds of the value of your entire gadget.
And remember, that’s only for the half, offered through the do-it-yourself lovers over at iFixit. The restore specialists have been promoting official OEM components for Google telephones for years, however this instance is simply staggering. It’s $300 greater than final yr’s equal half for the unique Pixel Fold, and sufficient to choose up a Pixel 9 Professional XL with 512GB of storage model new. The iPhone 16 Professional Max and Galaxy S24+ additionally slide in underneath that price ticket.
Comparisons are tough, as folding telephones are nonetheless a tiny shred of the consumer base for smartphones. However I discovered a alternative display screen for the last-gen Galaxy Z Fold 5 for about $540 USD, and one for the Oppo Discover N3 for underneath $400 — granted, with no assure that these components are new. A way more dramatic comparability comes immediately from Samsung, which can present a full alternative service for the Z Fold 6’s internal display screen for “simply” $549. Dear, actually, however contemplating the value of the cellphone, the rarity of the half, and the experience essential to restore, it appears justifiable.
Subsequent to Google’s obvious worth for the Pixel 9 Professional Fold’s major display screen, supplied with no restore and counting on the tip consumer for the extraordinarily delicate alternative course of, it’s a cut price. (I’m assuming that the huge, overwhelming majority of the value is Google’s OEM cost, not iFixit’s revenue margin). Google doesn’t checklist how a lot out-of-warranty repairs will price. It’s a great factor these folding telephones shield their internal screens by design, I suppose.
The remainder of the alternative components for the Pixel 9 Professional Fold on iFixit’s retailer are much more cheap, like a rear housing for $130. The rear digicam module is significantly costlier at $257 (with a collection of iFixit instruments alongside for the trip), however that’s additionally comprehensible, contemplating how a lot tech is crammed into high-end cell cameras.
Imagining myself with a $1,200 invoice for a $1,800 cellphone, I feel I’d in all probability simply name it a wash and make do with a superbly serviceable Pixel A for the subsequent few years. (Although it’s not way more serviceable in a literal sense). If I wished to hold on to my fancy Pixel folder, I may be tempted to spring for an prolonged guarantee simply in case.
I would surprise if promoting extra of these prolonged warranties was the purpose of marking up the value of the cellphone’s most fragile element within the first place. Hmm. Google Most popular Care prices $15 a month if you happen to have been questioning.
