HOW IT’S DONE
The new Xbox One certainly should be an easy fix — most of the time.
Microsoft Xbox One S
MAJOR TECH SPECS
Spec-bumped GPU supporting HDR10, along with the same AMD Jaguar eight-core SoC found in the original Xbox One 2TB of storage (500GB and 1TB configurations are coming) HDMI 2.0a connectivity with support for 4K video at 60Hz Internal power supply IR blaster Fancy vertical stand (2TB model only) Redesigned Xbox Wireless Controller
KEY FINDINGS
We take a moment to reminisce about our old Xbox 360 Opening Tool, but decide our trusty iFixit Opening Tool would be of more use. Well, Tools — popping that plastic ‘security’ nub takes a little extra oomph. After some intense prying, we remove the bottom cover, revealing a metal interior case. These clips may be tough at first, but plastic is bound to bend or break, unlike a reusable screw. Next time you open your One S, it may not clip back together. Much like the RF board on the Xbox One, the front panel board of the Xbox One S detaches outward from the lower case. With the front panel board’s EMI shield removed, we spy a lone IC and some of its friends. Next up on the teardown chopping block is the Wi-Fi board. After removing a few Torx screws, it comes quietly, just like the front panel board before it. This is a nice incremental improvement over its location in the previous Xbox One—it makes for one less step to open the inner metal case. Wi-Fi is handled by a MediaTek MT7612UN (most likely a variation of the MT7612U 2x2 802.11ac Wi-Fi module). A springy, X-shaped bracket secures the heatsink to the motherboard—a signature part we’ve seen in every Xbox since the original 360. The ‘X’ is a bit fussy, and takes some muscle, but some practiced prying with a flathead driver saves the day. Repairability Score: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair). Only a few tools are required to take the whole console apart. Once inside, a clean, nononsense modular design allows the drives, fan, heatsink, PSU, wireless board and front daughter-board to be easily replaced. Fewer interlocking body panels and a simpler clip arrangement make opening this generation of Xbox easier than its predecessor. Replacing the hard drive will require both voiding your warranty and some difficult hackery to make it serviceable, though.