We're only a few days into the New Year, and now that the holiday season and Nintendo Switch Lite launch window is over, news outlets are back to claiming that the release of yet another Nintendo Switch hardware revision is imminent. This time, it's not just the Wall Street Journal, but also a Taiwanese news site called Digitimes, who are claiming that a new Switch model will be out by mid-2020. These claims come from sources within the related hardware industry, who state that Nintendo will be ramping up production for a new Switch sometime before the end of Q1 2020. From there, this theorized Switch would release around the middle of this year, and would feature a new CPU.

Nintendo launched Switch Lite with friendlier pricing in late September and signifcant increaes in its overall Swtich console sales in the three-month period ended September 30, 2019. Now the Japanese vendor is reportedly planning to launch a new Switch model in mid-2020, qwith volume production for the new device beginning in first-quarter of this year. In China, chipmakers have been keen on developing high-performance AI chips and high-end CPUs, which will prompt suppliers to expand their ABF substrate production capacity to meet their needs. In Taiwan, startup team BeVi, is ready to showcase at CES 2020 its CarePLUS, a 360-degree AI-based environment recognition system for eldercare.

Nintendo new Switch to enter mass production in 1Q20: Nintendo is reportedly planning to release in mid-2020 a new model of Switch, which will begin volume production at the end of first-quarter 2020, according to sources from the related upstream supply chain.

These claims should always be taken with a grain of salt, but it does pose a question: With PlayStation and Xbox poised to release their powerful next-generation hardware for the holiday 2020 season, will Nintendo follow suit, in a bid to extend the Nintendo Switch's lifecycle with a more powerful system? We're already seen them do a hardware refresh with the new red box Nintendo Switch, and the Switch Lite. What do you think about this longstanding rumor?

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[cisadmyn]

I don't personally know any professional gamers. It's entirely irrelevant anyway, as even professional gamers can appreciate a hybrid device for use on road trips or the toilet.


Not sure why you think it would cost less than the handheld-only Switch Lite...docked mode requires better performance, not worse.

The Switch Lite has the exact same SoC as the regular switch, which is capable of rendering docked mode graphics. It just physically can't because it doesn't have the hdmi hardware.

And besides the Tegra X1 is so old now, as shown with Switch V2s there are likely Die Shrinks or Energy/Performance optimizations that can still be done.

 

[KingVamp]

Since we are talking about devices that look like the Switch.

Making a non-portable but powerful version of the Switch would go against everything the Switch stands for, literally NAMED for.

Like making a portable only Switch?

 

[Bladexdsl]

those don't have nintendos exclusives though. that's what makes the switch worth getting. otherwise it's just another lame phone snap on to play fortnite

 

[Xzi]

The Switch Lite has the exact same SoC as the regular switch, which is capable of rendering docked mode graphics.

We'd have to test them all individually to be sure, but I'd bet Switch Lite is using lower-binned chips which failed to hit the clock rate necessary for docked mode output. Which means Nintendo is still making a fair bit of profit at $200 each, because those chips would've just gone in the trash/recycling bin otherwise.

 

[Pleng]

People claiming that it's going to be dock-only are only kidding themselves. Making a non-portable but powerful version of the Switch would go against everything the Switch stands for, literally NAMED for.

While I agree with you, one could make the exact same argument about the Switch Lite. There's really no second guessing what crazy scheme Nintendo could come up with next.

 

[WhiteMaze]

People claiming that it's going to be dock-only are only kidding themselves. Making a non-portable but powerful version of the Switch would go against everything the Switch stands for, literally NAMED for.

Yeah...so...uhm...I feel kind of bad saying this but..they released a Switch that doesn't Switch.

The Switch Lite.

So....yeah. There goes that hope.

 

[DjoeN]

Tegra X2?
Tegra 3?

or would thatbe overkill?

 

[Psionic Roshambo]

Switch XL... or New Switch like the New 3DS.

Nvidia does have that refreshed X1 chip that is slightly faster. Maybe Nintendo will release an external GPU thing.

 

[KingVamp]

Switch Micro! Let's GO

I ,too, want my hands to burn.

 

[Teletron1]

Tegra X2?
Tegra 3?

or would thatbe overkill?

I thought a modified Parker chip which cut power demand by almost half but I do hope they give an option to run in power save mode as well as boost mode to gain some extra battery life

 

[Lodad]

People claiming that it's going to be dock-only are only kidding themselves. Making a non-portable but powerful version of the Switch would go against everything the Switch stands for, literally NAMED for.


Just get a PC or Oculus Go/Quest for god's sake. Why do you need the Switch to do this?

I don't know if you're referring to me, but I didn't claim it would be, just discussing how it could be practical (Also mentioned I was dreaming big and wishlisting).

As for VR, it would be cool if the switch family had the capability. High-end VR needs the pixel density on the display to mitigate screen door effects and a few people I know who own Valve Index initially complain about motion sickness. But if it weren't for the low-resolution Switch display, I'd say a traditional-style console designed around remote play AND as a base station for VR play would be pretty great. The more I think about that though, the more it sounds exactly how the Wii U was designed, minus VR.

 

[smf]

We'd have to test them all individually to be sure, but I'd bet Switch Lite is using lower-binned chips which failed to hit the clock rate necessary for docked mode output.

As the chips are cheap, on a old technology node and are relatively slow then I'm not sure how much testing they'll be prepared to pay to speed bin them.

Doesn't the loading screen overclocking boost the standard OS supports, go to docked speeds in handheld mode anyway? Or does the switch lite not work the same?

 

[64bitmodels]

Pro edition console would be nice to get modern framerates in some games

But honestly what I really want is an actual portable switch - one that can go in my pocket. The switch lite's form factor is almost the same as the first iteration

"Portable" yeah I guess

Pro edition console would be nice to get modern framerates in some games

But honestly what I really want is an actual portable switch - one that can go in my pocket. The switch lite's form factor is almost the same as the first iteration

"Portable" yeah I guess

so like a gba sp of sorts?

 

[Ericthegreat]

Yo Mr Xecuter, this is a whole lot more interesting than the switch lite or Mariko units. Don't burn the exploit pretty please

Yea, this kinda sucks, at the same time I guess it's mean to make switch lite users wait but I have to kinda agree.

 

[Immortallix]

If you are implying that making the switch smaller turns it into a Vita, then yes

I just miss portable consoles being portable

Honestly I want something closer to the DS or Gameboy advance foot print

I would like this as well, but the problem is devs these days make the text in games so small. A lot of games I have to pull a chair up in front of my tv to read. Super Neptunia & FE3H are really bad offenders, with the text still being quite small even when I'm holding the switch up to my face. An even smaller screen might just make text microscopic. Unless devs take it as a wake up call and start patching bigger text options into every game.

 

[DANTENDO]

I would like this as well, but the problem is devs these days make the text in games so small. A lot of games I have to pull a chair up in front of my tv to read. Super Neptunia & FE3H are really bad offenders, with the text still being quite small even when I'm holding the switch up to my face. An even smaller screen might just make text microscopic. Unless devs take it as a wake up call and start patching bigger text options into every game.

Eye test mate plus check for some games as hav options changing txt size

 

[Immortallix]

Eye test mate plus check for some games as hav options changing txt size

Gee I never thought of that. I have glasses & an up to date prescription. Text in games have been getting smaller and most games don't have options for it. Most of the time when they do the difference still isn't very helpful.

 

[HentaiHappy]

What exactly are they gonna do? Bigger screen, resolution, OLED, battery life extend 1 extra hour? They already rolled out the new tegra chip as damage control. lol