iFixit Says Switch 2 Is Probably Still Drift Prone

The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been released, boasting significant upgrades over its predecessor, including an improved screen, enhanced internal specifications, and more user-friendly controls. However, according to iFixit, a renowned advocate for repairability and expert in device disassembly, the new console is even more challenging to repair than the original Switch. A major concern for new owners is that despite a complete redesign of the Joy-Con controllers from scratch, the fundamental issue of stick drift—a problem that plagued many users of the original model—remains unaddressed in the Switch 2. Stick drift occurs when joysticks register movement without any user input. iFixit notes that joystick technologies utilizing magnets instead of potentiometers could mitigate this issue; however, such technology was not found in the Switch 2. In their blog post, iFixit states: "From what we can tell, the redesign didn’t include a revision to the core tech that causes joystick drift. Unless Nintendo is using some miracle new material on those resistive tracks or a change in size magically solves it, third-party replacements remain the best solution." Furthermore, replacing Joy-Con controllers has become more difficult with this iteration. iFixit's teardown video highlights several challenges for repairs: no available repair parts or documentation for consumers; primary storage soldered into place; previously replaceable components like game card readers and charge ports now fixed; and batteries and displays glued into place. These factors contribute to making repairs arduous. Adding to these difficulties are numerous tri-point screws unique to Nintendo devices and excessive stickers indicating tampering risks. Consequently, iFixit awarded the Switch 2 a repairability score of just 3 out of 10—lower than both its predecessor's retroactively adjusted score of 4 out of 10 and other consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X which scored higher at 7 out of 10. Shahram Mokhtari from iFixit questions whether this is truly Nintendo's best effort after all these years. The full review next week will reveal if performance compensates for these shortcomings.