Handheld consoles are tricky things to open. They has delicate screws held in place by small clips inside a casing. To crack open a PS Vita you’ll want the proper tools (precision screw drivers) and a bit of patience.
Don’t try prying it open with your fingernails or a knife. That’s an instant way to scratch up the finish or break the plastic tabs off.
Disassembling the Casing
First, you will disassemble it. Set your thing on a level surface so you can organize pieces as you go. The side of the device have a few parts, such as a memory card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack. Unplug all cards before removing the screws.
It prevents little parts from getting lost in the chassis.
Once the accessories are removed, focus on the screws. There will be some screws around the edge and under labels on the back of the device. Stickers may cover the screws so pay close attention. Remove them with a precision screwdriver.
Don’t turn the screw too fast or you’ll strip the head. If it’s loose, tighten it back up first. Then continue.
It’s a tense feeling, yet methodical. You’re getting closer to the shell with each screw removal. Remember to keep track of the screws; you’ll need to reassemble it later. If you mix up the screws the parts won’t line up.
Next might be the battery compartment. Inside here is a tiny screw, right by the slot. It hold the battery cover in place. Pop it out and you gain access to the power. Gently tug the battery free. This disconnects the power and keeps things from shorting as you tinker with the motherboard.
With the battery removed, it is time to break the casing apart. It’s quite snug in there. The buttons and screen is all connected to the main board via ribbon cables. Those connectors are fragile and easily damaged if pulled at the wrong angle.
Gently pry up the connector tabs with a plastic spudger. Avoid using any metal tools near the circuitry. You’ll scratch the board or risk shorts.
First thing out is the screen assembly which is typically still attached by a ribbon cable. Leave that attached until you’re ready to pull it completely free.
Next up is the heart of the system: the motherboard. This thing is held in place with a few tiny screws. Carefully remove those, keeping each screw in a safe location. Next, pull it free using the remaining connections.
Here you can find the Wi-Fi antenna (and more) that is usually taped to the shell/battery. Take care to not rip these off, as broken antennas will lower signal strength drasticly. If at all possible, leave ’em hooked up, easier/safer during re-assembly.
Open it up and look inside, see all the heat the thing produces. That’s the heat sink attached to the processor via thermal paste. After several years, the thermal paste is usually dry and cracked. You can swap it out and that will make your fans run quieter and perform better.
But that’s another adventure not related simply to opening the thing. For now, enjoy getting familiar with what you’re looking at. The design is great in its attention to detail. Nothing fits loose; everything is well aligned. Look inside and you appreciate the engineering that made it so slim and portable.
Snap it closed without incident. Replace all of the screws where they belong. Everything snaps back together. Turn it on. Screen functions as expected; no signs of abuse or damage whatsoever.
Opening and closing your own handheld console is a satisfying feeling. You gain a level of closeness with the thing. You’re no longer dealing with a black box. You know what’s under the hood. Knowing that makes you treat the device different than before. More carefuly.
All told, the disassembly was roughly half an hour. It went well. No stripped screws, no broken clips. Simply patience, steady hands, and careful work. Rushing will cause mistakes. Be patient.
At the end of the day, you have a fully functioning console that you understand front to back. Having that level of control feels good. When you need to fix something or clean something, you’re not afraid to do it. You understand how the machine works better.
That’s the real reason for all this. It instills confidence. And confidence is something money can’t buy.
