We’ve seen enough about the Nintendo Switch sequel, nominally dubbed the Switch 2, to have a good idea of what we’re getting once next year rolls around. So far, it’s been dummy consoles built to spec for the sake of case makers. However, we’ve seen enough confirmation from one supposed leaker on Reddit with a few juicy details.
Last week, several casemakers shared some general outlines of the Switch 2, including the general shape and position of the buttons. These were dummy units sent out to tech journalists and YouTubers, so they didn’t include much more than the general shape of the console and size of the controllers—particularly its new 8-inch IPS LCD (unfortunately not OLED like the Switch OLED). YouTuber NerdNest showed off a dummy unit sent to him from casemaker Ivoler that included not only a fake screen but removable controllers. Current leaks and rumors suggest the console will have magnetically attached JoyCons rather than the slide-on controls on the original Switch.
These details were effectively confirmed by a Redditor who goes by NextHandheld. The anonymous person in the thread started with “I’ve come from the future” and claimed they got his “muggy hands on a final release Switch 2 and its dock.” Now, it’s not the sort of rumor we tend to give credence to, but a moderator on the r/NintendoSwitch2 subreddit claims NextHandheld offered sizable proof of their claim. Then, on Thursday, The Verge’s Sean Hollister said he managed to reach the Redditor, and he’s “seen enough” to give the anonymous individual some legitimacy.
So, what’s in store for the Switch 2? First of all, that’s apparently what it will be called. The “next generation Switch,” officially described by Nintendo, is a legitimate sequel. The logo will reportedly be the classic Switch symbol with a “2” next to it.
Photos of the device described by the Verge show that Switch 2 has magnetically attached controllers that finally arrive with drift-resistant Hall effect joysticks. According to NextHandheld, to detach the controller, you push a button in the back to release it with a “physical magnetic click. ”
If you didn’t find much use for the flimsy kickstand on the original Switch, it seems Nintendo is going in a different direction for the Switch 2. It should contain a “U”-shaped kickstand that folds flat into the handheld’s body when unused. The leaker claims you’ll feel the same heft as the Switch OLED when holding it.
There is also a dock, and this is where things get interesting. The dock is curved on the sides and back, and NextHandheld claims it doesn’t fully cover the top of the screen when hooked up with the Switch 2. It also includes the same number of ports as before, with two USB-C, HDMI, and ethernet. According to the Redditor, the dock has a fan built in. The dock is rated for 60W, while the handheld is rated for 60W. It gives enough evidence that the Switch 2 dock could somehow boost the capabilities of the handheld, perhaps enough to play games in 4K, even if the screen on the handheld is still 1080p. NextHandheld could not confirm this detail.
NextHandheld claims they will drop pictures on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Better yet, The Verge said the Redditor shared more details on an upcoming announcement from Nintendo. The legacy Japanese game maker may reveal its console in January, far earlier than many rumormongers and leakers anticipated. Nintendo has only confirmed that it will announce its device sometime before its fiscal year ends in March 2025.
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