Switch 2 teardown shows that Nintendo hasn't learned a single lesson from the OG Switch when it comes to repairing it
Time changes many things, not least expectations and what is and isn't acceptable. This is especially true of Nintendo's original Switch handheld console, which teardown specialists iFixit gave an 80% repairability score in 2017, but then halved the rating last week to reflect the standards of 2025. Now it's torn open the new Switch 2, and after struggling with mountains of glue and soldered items, given a repair score of just 30%. Ouch.
There are multiple reasons for the Switch 2's low score and the readjusted rating for the OG Switch, but essentially, it all comes down to the fact that a significant number of parts are strongly glued in place and for the parts that are modular (i.e. mounted on their own circuit board), Nintendo officially provides no replacements. There isn't even a parts listing for the first Switch, despite being around for eight years.
Glue is certainly cheaper to use instead of mounting brackets and metal screws, but the Switch 2 is hardly a budget-priced offering. And as the Steam Deck amply demonstrates, it's perfectly possible to go with a modular design for the components that are most likely to wear and fail in time, and still hit a desired price point.
Nintendo hasn't fitted the Switch 2 with Hall effect thumbsticks, so they will wear and eventually drift, but as iFixit notes in its teardown video, the new Joy-Cons are harder to disassemble. Even if they're more resilient and take much longer to fail than the original ones, the fact that it's going to be harder to repair them is disappointing.
It's not all bad news, though: The cooling fan is easy to pop out (at least once you've actually gotten inside the handheld) and if you're nifty enough with a soldering iron, replacing some of the ports and the game card reader shouldn't be too difficult. However, the main battery is glued so heavily to the chassis that there's a good chance you'll break something if you try to replace it yourself.
Obviously, what Nintendo is expecting you to do is send it back to them for repairs, or just buy a new one. The cynical part of my brain suspects that the various parts will last just long enough for an OLED version of the Switch 2 to appear on the market, at which point Nintendo will just push gamers to buy that instead.
Repairability is more than just about scores and garnering good grace with reviewers. It's about reducing waste and sustainability—something that the electronics industry struggles with a lot. It's also about longevity, as a device that can be easily repaired can be sold many times, allowing for many more people to access the hardware.
For me, though, a highly repairable device is a sign that the manufacturer actually cares. Be it the consumer or the environment, putting repair into the heart of one's design shows that you're aware of the concerns of people and the impact your product has on the world. And as Valve has shown with the Steam Deck, you can do all of this and still make the device profitable. But for as long as the billions of dollars keep rolling in, Nintendo is never going to change its stance.
Best handheld gaming PC: What's the best travel buddy?Steam Deck OLED review: Our verdict on Valve's handheld.Best Steam Deck accessories: Get decked out.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Xiaomi's new upgraded smart security camera is here – and it's impressive
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. QUICK SUMMARY Xiaomi has launched its new Smart Camera 4C, which builds on its predecessor with a sharper 6 MP sensor and upgraded dual-band WiFi 6. Available now for pre-order in China at about £20/$28, it's a budget-friendly option packed with solid features. Whilst there's no global release date yet, a launch event next month could reveal when it'll hit other markets. After rolling out a bunch of smart gadgets lately, Xiaomi is back with its latest security camera just a few months after the last one dropped. The new Xiaomi Smart Camera 4C is the follow-up to the Smart Camera 4 that launched back in April, but it's now stepping things up with an upgraded 6 MP sensor for sharper, clearer footage. Xiaomi has also given the wireless side of things a boost, packing the camera with an advanced dual-band WiFi 6 chip. This allows for better coverage and smoother live previews on your phone compared to its predecessor. Right now, the Smart Camera 4C is up for pre-order in China at around 199 CNY, which is roughly $28 or £20. Xiaomi hasn't said when it'll hit global markets, but there's a launch event planned for next month, so fingers crossed we get all the details then. The new camera shoots video at 3200 x 1800 pixels and thanks to AI-powered enhancements, it promises bright, clear night vision too. It's powered by the MJA1 security chip that keeps your footage safe with cloud transmission encryption, and there's a handy physical lens cover built in. Other features include 3.5K resolution, a full 360-degree horizontal viewing angle, and 116 degrees vertical coverage. It supports both cloud and NAS storage, has a physical microSD card slot, and even 940 nm infrared fill lights, putting it right up there with some of the best security cameras out there.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Campfire's new IEMs are no mere in-ears, they promise you the moon
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick Summary Cambridge Audio's Grand Luna ear buds are the firm's first hybrid planar-balanced armature hybrids. Each hand-treated pair is visually unique. Priced at £1,399 / $1,399 a pair, they are for true audiophiles. Campfire Audio has added a new pair of high-end IEMs to its headphone hangar – and these ones are out of this world. The Grand Luna earphones are the firm's first ever planar-balanced armature hybrid headphones, and because of the way they're made, each pair is completely unique. They sport a new version of Campfire's 14mm planar magnetic driver, and here the it's teamed with two custom precision-tuned balanced armatures. According to the brand's founder and lead acoustic designer, Ken Ball, "Grand Luna is the perfect balance of new and intriguing tuning, design, and materials, while having a performance that is incredibly accessible and versatile." Campfire Audio Grand Luna: key details and pricing The headphones deliver an extremely wide frequency response of 5Hz to 30kHz, and impedance is 13 ohms. The Grand Luna also introduce a new modular cable system that we'll also see in future Campfire Audio IEMs too. It comes with three interchangeable terminators: a 3.5mm single-ended, a 4.4mm balanced, and a USB-C DAC with a Cirrus Logic Master HiFi CS43131 chip. On the outside, the in-ears feature a hand-treated stainless steel lid that's been flame-treated to give it a more colourful appearance, before being brushed to remove blemishes and rough edges. That treatment makes every pair different. The lid is attached to 3D-printed, transparent red shells. As we've come to expect from Campfire Audio, there's a generous collection of goodies alongside the IEMs themselves. You get a compact leather case with magnetic closure in "blood moon" red, three sizes of silicone ear tips, three foam and three "high and clear" ear tips, a microfibre cleaning cloth, a cleaning tool, and a ten-year anniversary lapel pin. The Campfire Audio Grand Luna earphones are available from today, 8 August, for a recommended price of £1,399 / $1,399 (about €1,612 / AU$2,879).
CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
Drag x Drive Proves the Switch 2's Mouse Mode Controls Are Fantastic
Nintendo's next summer title -- and one of the few new games for the Switch 2 soon after its June launch -- is the multiplayer wheelchair basketball game, Drag x Drive. It uses the console's new Joy-Con mouse controls to simulate moving the wheels of your chair (or vehicle, as it's referred to in-game) while playing short three-on-three matches. While it does take some getting used to, it shows off how well this new input mode works and harkens back to an era of motion-controlled gaming made popular on Nintendo's Wii. Playing Drag x Drive is unique, reflecting the Switch 2 new tech. You detach each Joy-Con 2 controller from the system, place the sensors face down on a surface (which can range from a table to even your legs), and slide the controllers forward and backward to move the wheels respectively. I actually found it more comfortable on my wrists to use the controllers positioned a little wider on my thighs instead of straight up and down on a table. Learning to play has a steep curve, and I found my shoulders getting tired quickly as the game kept reminding me that longer strokes would move my character faster on the court. For anyone who experienced Tennis Elbow back when WiiSports came out, Drag x Drive's bodily wear-and-tear will be familiar. Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET The mouse's controls are good -- better than I expected, in fact. They feel snappy, and I was able to pull off some higher-level maneuvers when I got used to it. And as you move, you can feel a subtle vibration in each hand to help you dial in how much force you're inputting. Moving the controllers at different speeds will adjust the turning radius. Braking (by pressing the R or L buttons) can be done independently of each wheel to further your control. There are even tricks you can pull off by using breaking and lifting the controllers in specific combinations, which the game points out will help you perform more advanced blocks and interceptions. Controls are the big novelty of Drag x Drive and take time to get used to, though the court and game modes offer their own unique challenges. Read more: I Played Donkey Kong Bananza. It's the Switch 2's Killer Ape Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET Moderately deep mechanics for a $20 game The primary mode is a 3-minute three-on-three game that's reminiscent of Rocket League (without the jetpacks). There's an indicator always pointing toward the oversized ball. Rolling into it will pick it up. If you're going fast enough (represented by a flashing light on your back) and crashing into someone head-on will knock it loose. And if you raise one of the joy-cons off the surface, you will lift the ball, flicking your wrist will make a shot. Since the court is kind of a skateboard-style bowl, you can even roll up into the air from the sides and shoot or dunk from above. These trick shots will award players with more granular points, for example, an aerial shot might award you 2.3 instead of the standard two you'd see in typical basketball. But you can still land a three-pointer from outside the boundary, but you'll have to be lined up real well while the other five players aren't slamming into you. Defense also works just like you'd expect, with positioning playing the most important role. Pressing the R and L buttons together will pass the ball to a teammate. If an opponent is in the way, they can intercept. This is key since I witnessed many teams pass a ball way down the court to an isolated player while we tried to race after them to stop the shot. Like every sport, you'll want to spread out and cover someone instead of clumping all together around the ball, like most new players often do. Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET While Drag x Drive curiously doesn't refer to anything as a wheelchair (or even highlight the awesome and inclusive sport of wheelchair basketball), it's really wonderful to see this representation. The characters can also be swapped out for one of three unit types: defense, forward or guard, all with different speed and power stats. From there, you can customise your character's outfit and gear, with more to unlock as you play. Outside of the online play, there are also nine different bot difficulties you can take on, so the game is playable in single player. There are also several minigames stationed around the hub area. These include a timed race and a rebound mode where you need to chase after a bouncing ball in the hub before time runs out. They're pretty short and not all that interesting, but they will reward you with medals to unlock gear. There are also some obstacles positioned around to play with. One example is a giant jump rope that you can bunny hop over. There isn't a typical career or story campaign to work through -- the main draw is the one core multiplayer mode. Considering the low $20 entry price, I wouldn't expect anything super in-depth, making this more of a unique application of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons' mouse mode than a long-lasting play experience. Drag x Drive is a shallow experience, but the skill ceiling has a lot of potential. Its low entry price makes it an easy recommendation, even if you're just interested in trying out the new mouse controls that the Switch 2 offers. If Nintendo chooses to support the game with more content in the future, I would love to see limited-time events and more game modes get added, building on the bones of one of the most unique sports games to come out in years. Drag x Drive comes out on Switch 2 on Thursday.
