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. However, this hasn’t stopped the leaker predicting a price and release date for a Switch Mini.
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.
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
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.
Overclocking a modded switch really showed me what v2 / oled models are capable of.
Any switch past the original is being sandbagged hard so they perform the same as v1.
With only a mild memory oc you can get 30+ fps in totk even when using ultrahand in kariko village.
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They should call it a Switch Blade.
Nintendo will do anything except a Switch 2.
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.
Half life 3?
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.
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
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.
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.
They could have easily built a dock that had more power to have better graphics on the tv.
Overclocking a modded switch really showed me what v2 / oled models are capable of. Any switch past the original is being sandbagged hard so they perform the same as v1.
With only a mild memory oc you can get 30+ fps in totk even when using ultrahand in kariko village.
https://youtu.be/cpGjO6Kc9qQ See for yourself.
I don’t think this will work to compete with the Deck.
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This is beyond speculation. Patents often don’t make it to an actual product