The Nintendo Switch is no longer considered an easy-to-repair device by leading repair advocate iFixit. In a rare retroactive move, iFixit has cut the Switch’s repairability score in half, dropping it from 8/10 to just 4/10.
When the hybrid console launched in 2017, iFixit praised it for relatively easy disassembly. But eight years later, that early optimism no longer holds up to today’s repairability standards.
The Switch’s glued-in battery, fragile ribbon cables, and lack of official repair guides and replacement parts were all cited as reasons for the downgrade.
According to iFixit’s latest blog post, the decision isn’t about common problems like Joy-Con drift, but rather the fact that the industry has evolved.
Modern handheld gaming devices, like the Steam Deck, now offer more repair-friendly designs and even official parts availability, raising the bar for what users should expect.
iFixit also referenced New York’s right-to-repair law, suggesting that Nintendo may be forced to support better repair options for the upcoming Switch 2, at least in the U.S.
This isn’t the first time iFixit has re-evaluated a major tech company’s repair approach. In 2024, they ended a partnership with Samsung over restrictive repair practices, such as forcing users to buy pre-attached screen-and-battery assemblies.
While Nintendo isn’t facing the same level of criticism as Samsung, iFixit’s revised score sends a clear message: repairability matters — even years after launch.
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