11 mo. ago • 93%

Leaker shares mounting Nintendo Switch Mini or Switch Pocket evidence, offers up release date and price predictions

www.notebookcheck.net Leaker shares mounting Nintendo Switch Mini or Switch Pocket evidence, offers up release date and price predictions

A Nintendo Switch Mini or Nintendo Switch Pocket handheld console could be in the pipeline according to a popular X-based leaker. It seems the source has dug up numerous patents that point to a miniature Switch, although patents often lead to nothing more than the public description of an idea. Howe...

Nintendo @lemmy.world Leaker shares mounting Nintendo Switch Mini or Switch Pocket evidence, offers up release date and price predictions

42 comments

Personally, I think the current Switch screen is as small as it can comfortably be. It's often hard, even for kids, to see what's going on.

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- Yes, that's the thing.
  
  The 3DS and before had a smaller screens, but games were designed for that screen size.
  
  The Switch is basically to play games designed to run on a TV so there is a limit how small you can go before it becomes hard to play.
  
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  I love my Gameboy Micro lawl
  
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- The font type size on Three Houses and the Zelda intros are ridiculously small. Meant for TVs, not handhelds
  
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A smaller switch would be a terrible idea. They're already pushing so hard to have mainstream games on the console, and those games have UI elements that can only get so small before they're useless. You'd have to develop your UI around being used on these tiny screens, which either takes extra work or leaves big screen users screwed.

A smaller screen switch would basically be relegated to phone games, and all other games would lose a lot of detail to size

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- Plus, the switch is still underpowered by like 8 years now.
  
  Please just give us a Switch Pro or something so that I can play TOTK at more than what feels like 12fps and 720p.
  
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- I honestly want a smaller Switch. I would 100% buy another Switch if I could easily stuff it in my purse like I do my Vita. I hate the trend of larger portables, they hurt my hands and make my arms tired. They're heavier and bigger than I have any use for.
  
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  Then get a lite? I don't understand the problem, there already is a smaller option.
  
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- I think it'll work if they just make the screen slightly smaller than the Lite, like maybe just quarter to half an inch. Use an OLED screen for smaller bezels and then put the buttons below the screen and make it foldable like a GBA. It'll reduce the footprint a lot.
  
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Nintendo will do anything except a Switch 2.

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- I believe the OLED was actually going to be the Switch 2 (or Pro), but the pandemic made them change plans.
  
  The chip market went bananas, and it was impossible to produce some chips at volume and at competitive prices.
  
  They probably decided to wait a bit, and evaluate alternatives and probably dedicate more time to R&D.
  
  Whatever they do, as long as it is compatible with the Switch, I’ll be happy. It’s one of the best game libraries they’ve had in a long time.
  
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- Half life 3?
  
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I have a launch switch that I haven't turned on in about 2 years. There just isn't enough on the Switch to keep me interested.

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- TotK? Mario Wonder (freaking awesome by the way)? Metroid Prime remaster? Metroid Dread? Pikmin 4? Super Mario RPG remaster? Advance Wars?
  
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  To play devil's advocate you've mentioned 3 remasters. I can see why you'd possibly only want one game on the list depending on your tastes but it's hard to say there's nothing on but at that point it's hard to argue it'd the switches fault and the Switch 2 isn't likely to change your opinion
  
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- That's nuts, I've been blown away by the Switch library and probably own over 500 titles.
  
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- Same. Deck completely took away my want for the Switch.
  
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- Only thing holding me back on playing more are the outdated specs. Enough solid games on the Switch imo.
  
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  I'm in the same boat. The performance of TOTK really turned me off the switch entirely because it felt like such a low quality game due to the hardware. Frame rates dropped considerably and the visuals deserve way better than what we currently get out of the Switch.
  
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- Yeah, mines pretty much only for smash ultimate at this point.
  
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This is beyond speculation. Patents often don’t make it to an actual product

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The information found in the patents has led to the presumption that a Nintendo Switch Mini, Switch Pocket, or Switch Micro handheld console is in the works. One focuses on button redistribution, with the home button and capture button being moved to the bottom of the device. Another patent goes further with button movement, placing the L, ZL, R, and ZR buttons in a line. Apparently, doing either of those things would produce a more compact Switch console (regular-sized model is currently US$290 on Amazon).

In yet another filing, magnets are used to attach a cover to the rear during gaming or onto the display for protection, which would be ideal for a Switch model that may be transported loosely in the pocket (more so than the current Lite variant). There is also a patent for a new cooling system, which the leaker believes is headed to the Nintendo Switch 2 but could also be viable for a Switch Mini. Last but not least, there is a filing that pertains to housing screw placement that specifically states “there is room for improvement in the design of portable electronic devices from the viewpoint of miniaturization of portable electronic devices”.

This is the main part to read. This is all based on a few patents that may not lead anywhere.

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The Lite already fits in my pocket quite well? What are they planning to do here?

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- You must have a huge pocket. The Lite is smaller than most but I wouldn't say it's that pocketable compared to something like a DS or PSP. I can see value for a Switch that's as small as a mobile phone.
  
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  Yeah it would be good having psp go like console
  
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  Exactly my thoughts. I keep my Vita in my purse as an every day carry, and I often think about the Switch being too large and heavy to be a proper portable game system.
  
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  Adult American Male, 29x32 Slim Straights, multiple brands. It fits perfectly in my front pockets and sticks out of my rear pockets. I can't speak for people with smaller pants, though.
  
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I don't think this will work to compete with the Deck.

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- Nintendo is probably not even considering the steam deck a challenger.
  
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  To their own detriment, then.
  
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- compete with who?
  
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I think this'd be a neat companion to Switch 2. A new gen new 3ds + Wii U analogue.

Vs Nintendo having just Switch and Switch Lite. As neat as the Switch Lite is, it isn't in the same niche as Ninty's earlier handhelds and I feel like there is a market for it. Though, it might be that the folks in that demo are probably just fine with their phones now.

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- Switch lite wont replace the ds because it cant be pocketed reasonably.
  
  And yeah my phone can play the same games as the ds. But physical buttons still beat any touchscreen control I've seen.
  
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They should call it a Switch Blade.

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