Xbox One Kinect Torn Down, Exposed by iFixit

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Ready to peek under the hood of the next generation of Kinect?

Microsoft's Kinect plays a huge role in the Xbox One experience. In fact, Microsoft believes that the Kinect sensor is so important, the company won't let you buy an Xbox One without it. The folks at iFixit tore down Microsoft's brand new Xbox One yesterday and now it's the Kinect 2's turn.

While iFixit found that the internal design is less complicated than the first generation, the team also found that not much can be replaced. These things combined earned the console a 6 out of 10 on iFixit's repairability scale.

So, what makes the Kinect 2 tick? iFixit counted one 'regular' camera as well as one IR camera and three IR emitters. There was also a 5 volt DC fan, and Samsung-made SDRAM. Microsoft has also moved the IR projector, which means instead of three 'eyes' staring back at you from the front of the device, Kinect just has two.

Check out the full gallery of photos and the full instructions for teardown over on iFixit.

Check out what we thought of the Xbox One in our review here.

Follow Jane McEntegart @JaneMcEntegart. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Jane McEntegart
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • sean1357
    Wait for couple months. You will see China version of Kinect....
    Reply
  • jigawatt
    Due to the huge lack in wheel support (such as my G27), and the mandatory Kinect, I have zero interest in the console.
    Reply
  • damianrobertjones
    Any chance of a Surface 2/Pro 2 review as you're now, pretty much, the ONLY tech site that hasn't bothered
    Reply
  • damianrobertjones
    "Due to the huge lack in wheel support (such as my G27), and the mandatory Kinect, I have zero interest in the console."

    Cool story.
    Reply
  • drew79
    Due to their lameness and partiality, I have zero interest in Sony hipsters. Two days in, and the Xbox One is the console gamers deserve. It has earned the right to spy on me in my boxers, if that indeed is of any interest to anyone.
    Reply
  • jimmysmitty
    12014067 said:
    Due to the huge lack in wheel support (such as my G27), and the mandatory Kinect, I have zero interest in the console.

    People are up in arms because of the mandatory Kinect like without it they wouldn't spy on you. Did you see the new PSN agreement? The PS4 now spies on you and can allow game devs to not allow you to use a used game.

    And you are complaining a gaming wheel developed by a PC peripheral company for a PC does not work with a console. That is like me complaining that a SNES controller does not work with my PC.
    Reply
  • internetlad
    Plastic? Circuitry? Revolutionary!

    I'm so very glad they broke this down, I was really looking forward to seeing one all taken apart!
    Reply
  • SteelCity1981
    People are up in arms because of the mandatory Kinect like without it they wouldn't spy on you. Did you see the new PSN agreement? The PS4 now spies on you and can allow game devs to not allow you to use a used game.

    true but ms takes it a step further and actually spies not only on what you are doing on xbox one but you yourself with Kinect.
    Reply
  • jigawatt
    12014692 said:
    12014067 said:
    Due to the huge lack in wheel support (such as my G27), and the mandatory Kinect, I have zero interest in the console.

    People are up in arms because of the mandatory Kinect like without it they wouldn't spy on you. Did you see the new PSN agreement? The PS4 now spies on you and can allow game devs to not allow you to use a used game.

    And you are complaining a gaming wheel developed by a PC peripheral company for a PC does not work with a console. That is like me complaining that a SNES controller does not work with my PC.

    My 12 year old PC peripherals AND G27 works with my PS3, and with full support. My disappointment IS relevant... the new consoles are more like a PC than ever... yet M$ is more interested in locking out accessories to force people into buying newer proprietary hardware just so it can work with their console, all the while taking in more $$$ on royalty fees for proprietary accessories. Heaven forbid a USB device to work on a console that has USB ports... it is sad, really.
    Reply
  • sportsmc3
    Aside from the Kinect, anyone find video games to be too fake for the amount of time they have existed? For example, in sports games on the ps4 and xbox one, they look exactly the same as the ps3 and 360 and I dont want to buy a new console without noticeable changes in graphics.
    Reply