Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PS4 have scored high marks for repairability in a pair of professional tear-downs - albeit for anyone that doesn't mind voiding their warranty.
Both Microsoft and Sony's respective next-generation consoles swap the custom architectures of their predecessors for more PC-like hardware - including semi-custom accelerated processing units (APUs) created by AMD using the same technology as for its chips destined for mid-range desktops and laptops. Where a standard PC desktop is designed to be easy to take apart to repair or upgrade, however, the same has not traditionally been true of consoles.
The engineers at iFixit have some good news, however. Having carried out tear-down analyses of both the Xbox One and PS4, the site concludes that both are surprisingly easy to repair with very little in the way of custom tools or specialist hardware being required.
The team found that the Xbox One can be dissembled using nothing more than plastic opening tools, a pair of 'spudger' tools, and a T9 Torx screwdriver. The PS4, meanwhile, is slightly more armoured against curious owners thanks to the use of a security-enabled T9 Torx bit that may not be in everyone's toolkit. Once those screws are removed, however, the remainder of the console can be accessed using standard Phillips screwdrivers and tweezers.
Both consoles have been given an eight out of 10 score for repairability, matching Nintendo's Wii U console and gamepad - despite Nintendo's use of unusual Tri-wing screws. The team even discovered that it would be possible to upgrade the 500GB hard drive found in the Xbox One to a larger unit, although unlike the easily-accessible and user-replaceable hard drive in the PS4 this will result in the loss of warranty.
Microsoft's Xbox One launched in the UK at midnight last night, while Sony's PS4 is due to launch in a week's time on Friday the 29th of November.
Andoid Games
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