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Nintendo’s eagerly anticipated Switch 2 has been hitting the shelves this week, bringing several substantial upgrades over its predecessor, such as an enhanced screen, improved internal specs, and more user-friendly controls. However, not all news is positive. According to iFixit, the device is significantly harder to repair compared to the original Switch.

One major point of concern for new users is the persistence of the joystick drift problem. Despite a "from the ground up" redesign of the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers, iFixit’s teardown reveals that the core technology responsible for joystick drift remains unchanged. Joystick drift, a common issue where unintended movements are registered, continues to be a potential problem.

iFixit highlights that modern joystick technologies using magnet-based sensors, like Hall effect or tunneling magnetoresistance, can effectively mitigate drift. Unfortunately, neither of these technologies is present in the Switch 2. “The redesign didn’t address the core tech causing joystick drift,” iFixit notes. Without a major overhaul, the best solution will likely still come from third-party replacements.

Additionally, the new Joy-Con controllers are found to be more difficult to replace. Considering joysticks are prone to wear and tear, being able to easily replace them is crucial for maintaining game console functionality.

iFixit has assigned the Switch 2 a repairability score of 3 out of 10, which is lower than the 4 out of 10 score for the original Switch. This also places it behind other gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, both of which scored 7 out of 10.

In a detailed teardown video, iFixit’s lead teardown technician, Shahram Mokhtari, demonstrates the challenges of repairing the Switch 2. Key issues include the lack of consumer-available repair parts and documentation, soldered storage and game card reader, as well as glued batteries and display. Mokhtari also criticizes the complex assembly process, featuring numerous tri-point screws, three types of thermal paste, and excessive tamper-evident stickers.

“Is this really the best Nintendo could do after all this time?” questions Mokhtari, reflecting on the disappointing repairability of the Switch 2. Many hope the console will otherwise live up to the performance expectations in upcoming reviews.