A nearly destroyed Nintendo 3DS gets a meticulous second life in this restoration video, and watching it is ASMR-level satisfying. The careful disassembly of wafer-thin circuit boards, the lineup of delicate specialized tools, the anti-yellowing washes — it's all extremely methodical in a way that scratches the brain in exactly the right spot. The damage on this one is especially bad, which means the transformation is especially dramatic.
I must admit I have something of a special affection toward the 3DS — it was my very first handheld console. (Please let me know if that made you feel old.) Seeing one in such shoddy shape is cringe-inducing, but the amount of effort that goes into restoring it is equally awe-inspiring. Some tech restorations are almost routine at this point, but this one earns its runtime.
By the end, it almost feels like the DS of Theseus. Is it truly the same console as when the deliciously ASMR-ish restoration began? Debatable, but it is nicer to look at — and honestly, the process of getting there is half the appeal. Tech restoration scratches a very specific itch, and this one scratches it well.
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