iFixit Offers Genuine Xbox Replacement Parts, But Prices Raise Eyebrows — $599 for an Xbox Series X Motherboard, Though New Console is $499

Just yesterday, iFixit teamed up with Microsoft in a move that’s bound to thrill Xbox fans everywhere. They’re rolling out a program to offer genuine repair parts for Xbox Series consoles, making it easier to keep your gaming gear in tip-top shape and out of the landfill.

The collaboration has launched with repair part listings for both disc and digital versions of the Xbox Series consoles, complete with user-friendly guides for swapping out components. While most replacement parts fall in the $20-$60 range, some top-tier essentials like the motherboard assembly are priced surprisingly high—almost as much as the console itself. Take the Series S motherboard, for instance: it costs $299.99, which is actually the price of a brand new Series S. Similarly, the Series X motherboard stands at $599.99, while the whole console is only $499.99.

The logic behind these prices is puzzling since buying a whole new system, complete with a controller and warranty, can be cheaper or at least the same price. Even swapping out accessory parts, such as controllers, seems pricey. A controller motherboard runs for about $29.99, yet a new Xbox wireless controller often goes for that amount during sales.

Buying a new motherboard only seems worthwhile for those with rare collector’s editions; otherwise, it’s cheaper and less of a hassle to just buy a brand-new Xbox. Fortunately, other repair costs are more reasonable, but the steep motherboard price tags do catch the eye. On the brighter side, iFixit is also offering parts for controllers, not just the consoles, unlike previous releases for Xbox.

Liz Chamberlain, the Director of Sustainability at iFixit, shared her enthusiasm: “It’s great partnering with Microsoft to extend the life of Xboxes and keep them from ending up in the trash. Since we began offering Surface parts, we’ve been enabling folks to fix their Microsoft devices—and now we’re thrilled to offer that service to Xbox users as well.”

iFixit is known for making electronic repairs more accessible, and we recently checked out their Fixhub Portable Soldering Station, awarding it four stars. Its excellent soldering capabilities, strong battery, precise power use, and handy features like USB C connectors make it a top pick.

For those involved in console repairs, this new line of Xbox parts is a game-changer. While the high-end soldering station is a great tool, there are more budget-friendly soldering options available, and iFixit’s easy-to-follow guides work perfectly no matter what tools you use.