The Nintendo Switch 2, one of 2025’s most hotly anticipated gaming consoles, is facing fierce criticism—but not for its hardware power or game library. Instead, repair specialists iFixit have delivered a scathing verdict on its design, awarding it a shockingly low repairability score of 3/10 in a recent teardown. For context, that’s even worse than the original Switch’s already-poor 7/10 score, signaling a troubling step backward for consumer-friendly repairability.
The Hype Meets Reality
When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, promising enhanced graphics, faster load times, and backward compatibility, fans rejoiced. Yet behind the sleek exterior lies a nightmare for repair technicians and environmentally conscious gamers. iFixit’s team, renowned for their device autopsies, discovered a labyrinth of proprietary hurdles, adhesives, and fragile components that make DIY repairs nearly impossible—and professional fixes prohibitively expensive.
Inside the Teardown: "Designed to Be Disposable"
According to iFixit’s report, the Switch 2 suffers from three critical flaws:
- Glued-In Battery Hell: The battery is encased in thick adhesive, requiring heat guns and risky prying to remove. One slip could puncture the cell, creating a fire hazard.
- Screen Assembly Sabotage: The OLED display is fused to the front casing, meaning a cracked screen requires replacing the entire $150+ assembly—no third-party alternatives exist.
- Proprietary Everything: Custom screws, soldered storage, and non-modular components ensure repairs hinge on Nintendo-approved parts only.
iFixit’s lead engineer, Kaylee Wharton, minced no words: "Nintendo is treating repairability as an afterthought. This isn’t just anti-consumer; it’s anti-planet."
See the Damage for Yourself
For a visceral look at the teardown struggle, iFixit’s video lays bare every frustrating step:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvD1OCHhhS0
The footage shows technicians battling adhesives for 20 minutes just to access the battery—a task that takes 30 seconds in a Steam Deck. Viewers witness the moment a flex cable snaps during screen removal, rendering the console unusable. "It’s like defusing a bomb," remarks a team member.
Industry Comparisons: How the Competition Stacks Up
The Switch 2’s 3/10 score is among the worst in modern gaming:
- Steam Deck (7/10): Modular parts, accessible SSD, and battery.
- PlayStation 5 (8/10): Tool-free expansions and labeled components.
- Xbox Series X (7/10): Standard screws and modular storage.
Nintendo’s approach starkly contrasts with industry shifts toward sustainability. France’s repairability index, for example, mandates scores on products—a law Nintendo would flunk spectacularly.
The Right-to-Repair Battle Heats Up
This teardown fuels the fire for right-to-repair advocates. "Nintendo is pushing consumers toward a throwaway culture," says Gay Gordon-Byrne of the Repair Association. "When a $400 console can’t survive a simple screen replacement, it’s designed for landfills."
Nintendo has yet to comment publicly, but internal documents leaked in 2022 revealed cost-cutting directives to "seal and bond" components. The strategy may save pennies per unit but costs users hundreds in repairs.
What This Means for Gamers
For everyday users, the implications are harsh:
- Costly Repairs: A cracked screen? Expect a $200 bill from Nintendo.
- Shortened Lifespan: Battery degradation will cripple portability in 2–3 years.
- E-Waste Tsunami: 50 million+ original Switches already languish in landfills; the Switch 2 could worsen this.
The Bottom Line
The Switch 2 might excel as a gaming machine, but its design philosophy is stuck in the past. As climate concerns mount and legislation like the EU’s right-to-repair laws looms, Nintendo risks alienating eco-conscious gamers. iFixit’s verdict is clear: until modular designs and repair manuals become standard, even beloved brands aren’t worth the splurge.
"You shouldn’t need a Ph.D. in engineering to replace a battery," Wharton concludes. "Gaming deserves better."
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