Folding phones are the cutting edge of mobile tech, and generally the most expensive devices in their respective lines. So it’s no shock that a repair for that fancy folding screen would cost a pretty penny. But according to a new vendor, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s primary screen costs a whopping $1,199.99 USD. That’s two-thirds of the price of the entire device.
And keep in mind, that’s just for the part, sold via the do-it-yourself enthusiasts over at iFixit. The repair specialists have been selling official OEM parts for Google phones for years, but this example is just staggering. It’s $300 more than last year’s equivalent part for the original Pixel Fold, and enough to pick up a Pixel 9 Pro XL with 512GB of storage brand new. The iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24+ also slide in under that price tag.
Comparisons are tricky, as folding phones are still a tiny shred of the user base for smartphones. But I found a replacement screen for the last-gen Galaxy Z Fold 5 for about $540 USD, and one for the Oppo Find N3 for under $400 — granted, with no guarantee that those parts are new. A much more dramatic comparison comes directly from Samsung, which will provide a full replacement service for the Z Fold 6’s inner screen for “just” $549. Pricey, certainly, but considering the price of the phone, the rarity of the part, and the expertise necessary to repair, it seems justifiable.
Next to Google’s apparent price for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s primary screen, provided without a repair and relying on the end user for the extremely delicate replacement process, it’s a bargain. (I’m assuming that the vast, vast majority of the price is Google’s OEM charge, not iFixit’s profit margin). Google does not list how much out-of-warranty repairs will cost. It’s a good thing these folding phones protect their inner screens by design, I suppose.
The rest of the replacement parts for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold on iFixit’s store are far more reasonable, like a rear housing for $130. The rear camera module is considerably more expensive at $257 (with a selection of iFixit tools along for the ride), but that’s also understandable, considering how much tech is crammed into high-end mobile cameras.
Imagining myself with a $1,200 bill for a $1,800 phone, I think I’d probably just call it a wash and make do with a perfectly serviceable Pixel A for the next few years. (Though it’s not much more serviceable in a literal sense). If I wanted to hang on to my fancy Pixel folder, I might be tempted to spring for an extended warranty just in case.
I might wonder if selling more of those extended warranties was the point of marking up the price of the phone’s most fragile component in the first place. Hmm. Google Preferred Care costs $15 a month if you were wondering.