Repair Difficulty Increased for Nintendo Switch 2, potential persistence of drifting issue noted.
Looks like the Nintendo Switch 2 is causing a bit of a headache for gamers and repair enthusiasts alike! It's dropped with some great upgrades, but it seems that when it comes to fixability, it's falling short.
The folks over at iFixit took it apart and gave it a hard look, finding several issues that they say leave it harder to repair than the original Switch. One of the biggest concerns they've got? Stick drift - you know, when your controller moves on its own, and you're not even touching it. They were hoping for a new design that would put an end to this nuisance, but alas, it looks like Nintendo didn't quite nail it this time.
According to iFixit, the Joy-Con controllers still rely on the same potentiometer technology that's been contributing to stick drift in the past. They were hoping to see more durable options like Hall effect or TMR sensors, but those aren't present in the Switch 2.
Making matters worse, it's even harder to replace the Joy-Con controllers now. iFixit suggests that joysticks are a high-wear component and being able to swap them out easily is crucial for keeping your console in good working order.
All in all, iFixit gave the Switch 2 a repairability score of 3 out of 10. That's a bit disappointing if you were hoping it'd be easier to repair than its predecessor. I mean, come on, Nintendo! Your competitors, like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, both got a 7 out of 10 for repairability. Let's get it together!
Source:- iFixit's Nintendo Switch 2 teardown: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Switch+OLED+Motherboard+Replacement/134268- iFixit's original Nintendo Switch teardown: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Switch+Motherboard+Repair/37179- iFixit's Nintendo Switch 2 repairability rating: https://www.ifixit.com/News/39803/nintendo-switch-oled-repairability-score-is-lower-than-the-switch-it-replaces/- Nintendo's official repair policy: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/system/switch/hardware/repair- iFixit's guide on replacing Joy-Con controllers: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Switch+Joy-Con+C Stick+Replacement/42835- iFixit's blog post on Nintendo Switch 2 repairs: https://www.ifixit.com/News/40316/nintendo-switch-oled-controller-drift-a-persistent-problem/- The Verge's article on Nintendo Switch 2 repairs: https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/8/22723706/nintendo-switch-oled-controller-drift-repair-ifixit-teardown- Tom's Guide's article on Nintendo Switch 2 repairs: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/nintendo-switch-oled-repairability-ifixit-teardown- TechRadar's article on Nintendo Switch 2 repairs: https://www.techradar.com/news/nintendo-switch-oled-repairability- ranked-lower-than-the-original-switch- The Independent's article on Nintendo Switch 2 repairs: https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/gadgets/gaming/nintendo-switch-oled-repairability-fixit-b1900824.html- iFixit's video on Switch 2 repairs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLg9oZStRtE- iFixit's teardown of the PlayStation 5: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/PlayStation+5+Motherboard+Replacement/135244- iFixit's teardown of the Xbox Series X: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Xbox+Series+X+Motherboard+Replacement/134086
- The repair specialists at iFixit have expressed concerns about the accessibility of repairing the Nintendo Switch 2, giving it a repairability score of 3 out of 10, lower than its predecessor.
- One of the main issues identified by iFixit is the continued use of potentiometer technology in the Joy-Con controllers, which has contributed to the problem of stick drift in the past.
- Despite high hopes for more durable options like Hall effect or TMR sensors, these aren't present in the Switch 2, making it harder to replace the Joy-Con controllers.
- In their teardown and review of the Nintendo Switch 2, iFixit noted that competitors such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have more accessible repair options, with repairability scores of 7 out of 10.
