Is Your Console Worth Repairing? Repair vs Replace in 2026
With new consoles running $800+, most single-fault repairs win the maths by hundreds of dollars. But not every console is worth fixing, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. Here are the real numbers and an honest way to decide.
The maths, straight up
Fixed repair prices against $800+ for a new current-gen console. Add our flat $100 insured shipping both ways and compare totals.
Worst case on that list: $350 repair + $100 shipping = $450 all-in, delivered back to your door — still hundreds under replacement. Full price list here.
A simple way to decide
If the all-in repair cost lands well under half the price of replacing, repair. For a single fault on a current-gen console — broken HDMI port, dead PSU — that's almost always where the quote lands, so the decision makes itself.
Repair also keeps things replacement quietly costs you again: the storage upgrade you fitted, your controllers and accessories that match, and a console you know the history of. Your digital library carries over to a new machine either way — this is a money decision, not a games decision, and repair wins it on money.
The trap to avoid is spending anything on guesswork. Parts-cannon repairs — buying a PSU, then a cable, then a port kit off the internet — regularly cost more than a proper diagnosis and fix, and every opened console risks turning a repairable fault into an unrepairable one.
When replacing genuinely makes sense
We repair consoles for a living and we'll still tell you: sometimes the answer is no.
- Multiple major faults at once. A console that needs a port, a PSU and a drive is a different conversation to a console that needs one of them. When the quote stacks up past the point of sense, we'll say so — and offer a trade-in instead.
- You were upgrading anyway. If you've been eyeing a newer model, putting repair money toward it can be the right call. Trade the broken one in rather than binning it.
- Severe board damage. Some consoles arrive beyond economic repair — usually after DIY attempts or serious liquid damage. If we can't fix it, we'll offer a trade-in, or send it back as-is for our standard $88 service fee plus return postage.
Why you never have to decide blind
Free diagnostic
We find the actual fault and put a fixed price on fixing it — before any work, before any commitment.
Fixed quote in writing
You make the repair-or-replace call with the real number in front of you, not a guess off a forum.
Pay only on approval
Nothing upfront. No repair happens without your say-so. A flat $100 insured shipping (both ways) is added only if you approve.
Not worth it? Trade it in
If the maths doesn't work for your console, take the trade-in offer and put it toward whatever's next.
Repair or replace, answered
Is a PS5 with a broken HDMI port worth fixing?
Usually, yes — and it isn't close. The repair is $340 fixed plus $100 insured shipping both ways, against $800+ for a new console. You keep your drive, your storage upgrade and your setup, and the repair total comes in hundreds of dollars under replacement.
How do I know the repair price before committing?
Diagnosis is free and you get a fixed quote in writing before any work starts. Nothing is charged upfront — you only pay if you approve the repair. That means you can make the repair-or-replace call with the actual number in front of you, not a guess.
What if the quote isn't worth it for my console?
Then don't approve it — no repair happens without your say-so. We'll offer you a trade-in, or you can have it back unrepaired for our standard $88 service fee plus return postage. Either way you're never locked in.
Do I lose my games and saves if I replace my console instead?
Your digital library and account carry over to a new console, so replacement mostly costs you money rather than games. The case for repair is simpler: it's the same working console for hundreds of dollars less, without re-buying storage upgrades or accessories.
How does mail-in work?
We email you a prepaid, insured AusPost label. You drop it at any post office. We diagnose it and quote a fixed price. If you approve the repair, a flat $100 shipping (both ways, fully insured) is added to your invoice on top of the repair — nothing to pay upfront. If you decide not to go ahead, it's just our standard $88 service fee plus the shipping.
How long will it take?
Standard turnaround is 3-8 days door-to-door. Express Post (+$49): 3-5 days. Express Workshop (+$129): same-calendar-day repair. Full turnaround guide here.
Get the real number, then decide.
Free diagnosis, fixed quote before any work, and you only pay if you approve. A flat $100 shipping (both ways, fully insured) is added to your final invoice only if you go ahead — nothing to pay upfront.