iFixit teardown shows smaller fan and heatsink of Nintendo Switch OLED version
In addition to the already known improved kickstand, speaker and of course the screen, Nintendo has made a number of other adjustments to the hardware of the OLED version of the Switch. For example, the teardown of iFixit shows that the fan and heatsink are slightly smaller than before.
After removing the back, which is done in a similar way to previous Switch versions, the first changes can already be seen, iFixit writes. For example, the interconnect cables for WiFi and Bluetooth are now glued to the shield. Nintendo probably did this to prevent connectivity issues, although these stuck cables are now more difficult to remove and reinsert, notes iFixit.
When removing the shield, users will see several changes from previous versions of the handheld. For example, the SD card reader, game card reader and 3.5mm port are now soldered on one board, instead of consisting of three separate boards. In addition, the fan and heatsink have been reduced in size. Users do not have to immediately fear heat problems; iFixit notes that the cooling of the previous Switch models was actually unnecessarily good.
On the right the smaller cooling, heatsink and 3.5mm and card reader board from Switch oled, on the left components of the previous model
Nintendo could also use the extra space that the smaller fan and heatsink offer; the new kickstand, which can now be placed in multiple positions, takes up more space. In addition, the OLED version of the Switch has an improved speaker with housing, so that the sound is directed towards the user.
iFixit is cautiously positive about the repairability of the OLED panel. The screen is thinner and more vulnerable than the LCD screen of the other Switch versions, but comes off more easily than OLED panels on Samsung smartphones. Samsung is also the supplier for the OLED panels of the Switch. iFixit says there’s still a higher chance of breaking the Switch’s OLED screen during use or during repair than the LCD model, but also says it could have been worse.
IFixit also briefly discusses the Switch’s Joy-Cons. The company cannot see any noticeable differences with the joysticks; So iFixit cannot verify Nintendo’s claims that they have improved the joysticks. However, the rails with which the controllers are clicked to the console have been adjusted, so that the controllers would now remain more firmly attached to the handheld.
Ultimately, the console gets a score of 7 from iFixit. This is one point lower than the previous model, mainly because storage, SD card reader and 3.5mm port are now on one board. Nintendo announced the console in July.