IFixit Downgrades Nintendo Switch Repairability Score Nationwide

iFixit has significantly downgraded the repairability score of the original Nintendo Switch and its variants, cutting the score in half from 8/10 to 4/10, as its repair criteria have evolved over eight years and the industry has advanced. The downgrade is due to issues such as the glued-in battery, fragile ribbon cables, lack of official repair guides, and unavailable replacement parts, which make repairs more difficult compared to modern handheld devices like the Steam Deck and Legion Go. iFixit emphasizes that the lowered score is not mainly about Joy-Con drift but about Nintendo falling behind current repair standards and practices. The new Nintendo Switch 2, launching soon, will be evaluated for its repairability, with hopes that Nintendo improves availability of parts and repair manuals, possibly influenced by right-to-repair laws such as those in New York. This move by iFixit reflects a broader industry trend toward modular designs and easier repairs, highlighting consumer and legal pressure for better repair support. Nintendo’s approach contrasts with more repair-friendly competitors, and iFixit’s updated stance sends a clear message on the importance of repairability even years after a device’s debut.