We'll have to untether the display before going any further. Its two cables are secured by plastic plugs in the midframe, and they only come out with some encouragement from a hefty pry tool.

Just like in the original Pixel XL, a magnesium midframe separates the display from the innards, and provides a solid backing behind the display for when you're candy crushing it.

Piggybacking onto that midframe, we find a brand new heat pipe! Looks like this phone might just run a bit hotter than its previous incarnation.