Switch 2: Joy-Con Drift Concerns Remain – iFixit
- The Nintendo Switch 2 is now available,boasting enhancements like a better display,upgraded internal components,and refined controls.
- A primary worry for new owners centers on the redesigned Joy-Con controllers.
- iFixit noted that option joystick technologies, such as Hall effect or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors, wich rely on magnets rather of potentiometers, could mitigate stick drift.
Nintendo Switch 2 Faces Repair Challenges,iFixit Teardown Reveals
Updated June 7,2025
The Nintendo Switch 2 is now available,boasting enhancements like a better display,upgraded internal components,and refined controls. However, early assessments indicate a step backward in one area: repairability. According to iFixit, the Switch 2 is more arduous to fix than its predecessor.
A primary worry for new owners centers on the redesigned Joy-Con controllers. Despite the redesign, the persistent issue of stick drift, a common complaint among original Switch owners, appears unresolved.Stick drift occurs when joysticks register movement without player input, often due to wear or heavy use.
Courtesy of iFixit
iFixit noted that option joystick technologies, such as Hall effect or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors, wich rely on magnets rather of potentiometers, could mitigate stick drift. Though, these where not found in the Switch 2.
“From what we can tell, the redesign didn’t include a revision to the core tech that causes joystick drift,” iFixit stated in its blog post. They suggest third-party replacements may again be the best solution unless Nintendo has implemented a new material or design change that addresses the issue.
compounding the problem, iFixit discovered that replacing the Joy-Con controllers is now more challenging. They emphasize that joysticks are high-wear components that can break even without drift, making their replaceability a key factor in console repairability.
iFixit assigned the Nintendo switch 2 a repairability score of 3 out of 10, a point lower than the original Switch’s revised score of 4. This score also trails behind the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which both received a 7 out of 10.
What’s next
Gamers and repair enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if Nintendo addresses the stick drift issue and improves the console’s repairability in future iterations.