While the consumer electronics industry has converted—more or less willingly—to the principles of better repairability, Nintendo has unfortunately been stuck in place. This is the observation made by iFixit, which has downgraded the rating of the first Switch of the name, the one from 2017. And when we talk about a drop, we should really talk about a fall: the hybrid console has gone from 8 out of 10 to a mere 4 out of 10.
From praise to red card
The insides of the Switch 1 have not changed in eight years, while repairers have used the Phillips screwdriver on many portable consoles released in the meantime. The Steam Deck is known for its ease of tinkering with its interior, and this is a finding that can be made for other competing models.
Meanwhile, Nintendo still does not offer the option to purchase certified components, even though many of the Switch 1's parts are modular and therefore replaceable. The manufacturer also does not provide instructions for replacing these components. And the battery is still glued into the chassis, making it unnecessarily complicated to change.
Joy-Con Drift has been the number one issue that has plagued gamers this entire generation (hopefully the Switch 2 will have solved the problem once and for all). But in comparison, it's easier to replace faulty sticks than it is to change the battery.
iFixit notes other positive points that prevent the Switch 1 from falling completely out of favor: it's possible to replace the storage with a larger model, and the internals remain fairly easy to access. But compared to new, highly modular consoles, with official components and guides available, the Switch 1 no longer holds its own.
Nintendo will no longer have the luxury of ignoring repairability issues. On both sides of the Atlantic, legislators are working to impose stricter rules on electronics manufacturers, requiring them to provide spare parts, tools, and repair guides. The Japanese company will have to fall into line, or face sanctions or sales restrictions.
But beyond the legal framework, it's also a growing consumer expectation that's emerging. At a time when durability is becoming a purchasing criterion in its own right, lagging behind in this area could be costly—in terms of both image and market share.
iFixit will be returning to the Switch Lite and the Switch OLED in the coming weeks, and will revise the scores given at the time if necessary. They were already disastrous: 3 and 4 out of 10 respectively!
Source: iFixit
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