This is a small step towards the repairability of our beloved electronic products. In partnership with iFixit, Microsoft has just made most spare parts available for its Xbox consoles. If certain abnormally high prices raise questions, the approach is to be welcomed.
A large catalog of spare parts available
iFixit now offers a wide selection of genuine components for Xbox Series S and Series X. Available parts include:
- Complete motherboards (€699.95, more expensive than the console)
- Power supplies (€56.95)
- Wi-Fi cards (€24.95)
- Fans (€29.95)
- disk drives
- Enclosures
- Plastic buttons and components
- Heat sinks
- Console feet
- Different components for controllers
The complete list with prices is available on the iFixit website. If the prices are generally very reasonable, we regret the price of the motherboards which make the repair unprofitable compared to the purchase of a new console. The piece at least has the merit of existing, and we can imagine that this program will take on its full meaning in several years when the Xbox Series is no longer produced by Microsoft.
Elizabeth Chamberlain, director of sustainability at iFixit, tells the site The Verge that the goal is to “keep Xboxes working for longer and prevent them from ending up in landfill.”
An approach that is part of a broader movement
This initiative is not isolated, since Microsoft has already been offering spare parts for its Xbox and Surface controllers via iFixit since 2023. The platform is also a partner of other major gaming players such as Valve, for whom it supplies almost all the parts. from the Steam Deck. Please note that Playstation does not offer a comparable service.
To facilitate repairs, iFixit provides detailed guides and even offers tool kits specially designed to work on Xbox consoles. It is important to note that some repairs may still require technical knowledge, even with the guides provided.
This approach is part of a broader trend in the industry, where we are increasingly seeing manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola and Google engage in similar repair programs. Apple also offers its own program, although it is often criticized for its prohibitive prices.
