Laminated Nintendo Switch LCD Installation (Release Model)
Channel: makho
Date: 2021-09-20

For that cleaner, laminated look. 

If you just want an image based guide, why not ifixit? No modification is necessary to use a laminated LCD assembly, just drop it in in place of the original display assembly: https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nintendo+Switch+Screen+Replacement/140021

Stock Switch consoles use an airgapped digitizer over the LCD. This results in a slightly more durable piece of hardware and that is cheaper to repair (since the digitizer and LCD can be replaced independently from each other). However, lamination has been standard for the last decade when it comes to high quality LCDs with touch digitizers due to the increased visual clarity and overall much cleaner look. 

If you're replacing the LCD on your Switch anyway, I can definitely recommend picking up a laminated assembly to swap in. That being said, there are diminishing returns and I can't say I recommend doing this swap on a perfectly working Switch. 

Recommend test before install (see pictures on the V2 listing). 

V1 Switch Hardware (Serials starting with "XA"): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32967632397.html

V2 Switch Hardware (serials starting with "XK"): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002777250605.html

Both of the links above use plastic digitizers (like stock). If you know of a seller using glass digitizers or that has Switch Lite assemblies, please let me know. 

Highly recommend grabbing some digitizer adhesive so you don't have to use your own. The Switch is pretty easy when it comes to using cut tape but it's even easier to spend a couple extra dollars and just get a pre-cut adhesive to use. 

While you have the LCD off, it's a good opportunity to swap out the front housing on the switch as the four screws to remove it are located under the LCD bezel. I used an extremerate front housing: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N5R2TSD/
Just don't forget to swap over the ambient light sensor lens and the speaker grills. Realizing you forgot a part after you've already stuck the LCD down is not a pleasant feeling. 

If you want to DIY laminate your existing LCD, that's possible too. I did not have the hardware or expertise required for that but this youtube video shows how it's possible to do that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFJdG9Vv4Wc

And last, while you have your Switch apart, it's probably a good idea to redo the thermal paste, especially if yours is a launch model like mine. If the paste is still gooey, no need to redo it. Mine was not gooey. 

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Need assistance troubleshooting? I don't offer one on one tech support but you can try self-help with the wiki: https://gameboy.github.io/
If you need more help than that, I'd recommend joining one of the many discord servers linked there and posting in the various troubleshooting channels. I do not respond to emails or DMs with troubleshooting requests. 

Tools I regularly use (and recommend)
Fine point tweezers - Engineer PTN-03: https://retrogamerepairshop.com/products/ptn-01-03-titanium-tweezers-series

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