Rumor: two Switch hardware revisions entering production

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According to the Wall Street Journal, Nintendo is currently moving its production sites away from China, to an undisclosed location in South East Asia. The reason behind this move is the trade war between China and the US, with tariffs now applying to all Chinese-made electronic products. The WSJ is also revealing that two new models have entered production: a new, more powerful system that will resemble the current one; and a second "lite" model that will be sold at a cheaper price and look somewhat different.
The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Nintendo planned to update the Switch this year with two new models. One is set to look similar to the current model with beefed-up components, while the other is expected to be a less-expensive model with a new look.
People involved in the supply chain said production in Southeast Asia has started for the Switch, including the current type and the two new models, suggesting Nintendo is getting ready to introduce them soon. They didn’t give specific volume figures but said Nintendo wanted to have enough units to sell in the U.S., the largest market for videogame consoles, when the new products go on the market.
This has not been confirmed by Nintendo yet and nobody yet knows when these two new models will hit the market. But if this comes true, will The Witcher 3 run at a higher resolution than 540p on the new, more powerful model? Time will tell. Which of these models are you more likely to purchase?

:arrow: Source: WSJ
 

Delerious

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The Wall Street Journal also said that the new models were gonna be announced by this summer and they haven't announced anything at E3.

I dont know, they have been like this for months, and to pull it again at the end of E3, for me they are just telling the people who don't have a switch already "don't buy one right now, wait for the revision" and who know when that will happen...

Well, it's still not even summer yet. If the rumor holds any water though, then hopefully we can get:
  • Better screen with a little more screen real estate
  • An extra 2+ GB RAM with controller being able to allocate it as VRAM
  • Extra CPU speed (would probably only be 400-500 MHz at best, though)
  • Better dock, with better locations for all ports
  • Better location for USB-C port on tablet to allow tabletop charging without additional accessories
  • Better tabletop stand on tablet
  • Better SDXC control (more so that if/when it gets hacked, users won't have the same woes for SDXC cards as with current models)
  • A new, "Pro" Joy-con design, while still having the same rails to allow standard Joy-cons
That's my wishlist, anyway.
 
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Xzi

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why would they do that the switch is barely able to keep up with todays games as it is. what possible reason would they have to do this (except a really dumb one) :P
They can't make it smaller without at least underclocking it a bit. And if the focus for Switch Lite is portable play, it doesn't need as much power anyway. Perhaps they'll cap docked mode for it at 720p.
 
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Xzi

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well the damn thing will only be good for nindies than :lol:
The people who want a more portable system don't really care what it looks like when docked. The portable experience would be the same as original Switch. People who favor the docked experience will probably go with Switch Pro.
 
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Xzi

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still rteckon it will be a switch with no dock and no detachable joy cons to replace the 3ds they are now abandoning :P
They might do that for the Switch Lite, and simply allow you to buy the dock separate. Would help bring down the price. I don't think they'll make it unable to dock altogether, though, unless Switch Pro is stationary-only. And I don't expect that to be the case. Would kinda invalidate the whole namesake of 'Switch.'
 

FAST6191

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I want a Switch Pro so I can transfer my account and saves to it, and then use my regular switch as a piracy machine without worrying about getting banned.
The first hacking related ban we heard of was purportedly a contagious one for multiple devices on the same account. In before that happens again.
 

WiikeyHacker

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I'm ready to trade up to a Switch Pro. I wonder exactly how much more power they can get out of it if they're sticking with the same form factor, though. More RAM would probably be helpful.

More Ram (maybe doubled) would be nice and a stronger battery would be a definite, but then again i modded a stronger one in mine already. but i refuse to hack the firmware. However the 3ds i already have.
 
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Xzi

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am and a stronger battery would be a definite, but then again i modded a stronger one in mine already. but i refuse to hack the firmware. However the 3ds i already have.
Word is the new X1 revision is more power efficient, so we should get better battery life even if the battery isn't upgraded. Hopefully it is, but I don't want to set my expectations too high.
 

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Word is the new X1 revision is more power efficient, so we should get better battery life even if the battery isn't upgraded. Hopefully it is, but I don't want to set my expectations too high.
I see your point Xzi, hence why i modded the better battery in my one, it would of been nice if my boyfriend didn't ditch me but it happens.
 

ROMANREIGNS599

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Aww man, this feels bad or weird to me. I just got a Switch and am very happy with it. It’s definitely gonna feel bad when a better Switch is in the market which can run Fortnite better. But can they do it so soon, this news came out 2 years later after Switch’s release date and when it was 3DS’s release date, two years later they just released better hardware and an affordable one with no graphical improvements :/
 

Godofcheese

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The "beefed up" version prolly just contains a bigger battery and a larger nand.
prolly comes with a TN panel too just to compensate for the added hardware

:)

The Mini will prolly be a replacement for the dying/killed off 3DS, may it rest in peace.
So no docking, probably.
 

Pleng

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he Mini will prolly be a replacement for the dying/killed off 3DS, may it rest in peace.
So no docking, probably

I'm sure "docking" (tv play) will be supported in some way or another, even if it's just a case of an HDMI port on the unit. As others have already theorised, it may well still stay in handheld mode when connected to the TV though.
 

Xzi

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Hopefully they'll have a console-only revision.
I don't really understand the desire for this. A stationary Switch without a screen is just a Shield TV. They can make it more powerful without needing to remove functionality. Conversely, they can also make it more portable without needing to remove functionality.

Plus WiiU was already a reverse Switch when you think about it, 1-in-2 instead of 2-in-1. The concept clearly wasn't that appealing.
 
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KingVamp

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I don't really understand the desire for this. A stationary Switch without a screen is just a Shield TV. They can make it more powerful without needing to remove functionality. Conversely, they can also make it more portable without needing to remove functionality.

Plus WiiU was already a reverse Switch when you think about it, 1-in-2 instead of 2-in-1. The concept clearly wasn't that appealing.
I'm pretty sure some people are hoping for a PS5, Nintendo Edition. Which would basically be a PS5 with Joy-Con. Can't really do that and have it be portable too. :P
 
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