What I Learned from Repairing Joycons

Years ago, I tried replacing the battery in an iPhone. It didn’t go well—I ended up bricking the phone. That experience left me hesitant to do any future repairs. So when my Surface Pro needed a battery replacement, I just gave it away. But I eventually found myself facing another repair challenge that I couldn’t resist: Joycons.

I wanted the pastel green and blue Animal Crossing Joycons, but they were expensive. I thought that if I learned to repair Joycons, I could get them cheaper by buying damaged ones and fixing them myself. I’d save money and gain some new skills.

Joy con shells I've gathered
Joycon shells I’ve gathered

I started by purchasing damaged and non-working Joycons off eBay. Some were in decent shape, while others were in far worse condition. Unlike my iPhone repair attempt, this time went much better. I learned how to tear apart the Joycons and even picked up some soldering skills along the way. Unfortunately, Joycons often require micro-soldering. I didn’t want to invest in even MORE specialized tools, so I decided to let go of the projects that needed that level of repair.

Still, I learned a lot. I also learned how to repaint the shells, something I’d always wanted to try. Some came out bumpier than others. I managed to repair and resell some of the Joycons, but there’s not really money in it. With Joycons costing $80 and Nintendo offering free repairs or replacements, it’s hard to turn a profit unless you’re dealing with rare or custom shells. Still, it was a lot of fun.

Spray-painted shell (left) next to Animal Crossing shell (right)

In the end, I did get my hands on the Animal Crossing Joycons and repaired them. I even ended up with some pink shells, and my favorite pair is a light blue Joycon that I spray-painted paired with a light pink shell. As the year winds down, I’ll probably hang up my Joycon repair hat and sell off the remaining shells and broken motherboards. But I’m glad I took on this challenge and learned so much from it.

Since then, I’ve learned to repair other gaming equipment. I’ve purchased a broken Nintendo DS and GameboySP and ordered parts off AliExpress. I’ve opened, cleaned, and replaced parts for Gamecube Wavebirds (always dirty), and I’ve learned how to take apart Wiimotes and deal with corrosion. I recently ordered a new eject button for an Xbox 360 with an immobile CD tray, and I’ve even opened various electronic equipment like noise machines, robot vacuums, and humidifiers.

Before this, I never saw myself as someone who could confidently take apart components and fix them. But now, I’m not afraid to dive into a repair project, and that’s something I’m really proud of. That said, I still leave iPhone battery replacements to the pros with the right tools.

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