Reported ‘Nintendo Switch 2’ Images Are Both Surprising And Not Surprising

A new series of renders and hardware shots are circulating showing what is supposed to be the next design of the Nintendo Switch, which of course we’ve all been calling the Nintendo Switch 2 until Nintendo inevitably comes up with a more illogical name.

The leaked but unconfirmed images, which you can see embedded below, are renders that VGC confirms with a source that look like what Nintendo is doing for the console, and there are at least a couple hardware pictures in there.

The most obvious thing to notice is that…it looks like a Nintendo Switch. I find this simultaneously surprising, and not surprising, even if that may not initially make sense.

The surprise is how little it’s changing given Nintendo’s hardware history. Going back through the NES to SNES to N64 to GameCube to Wii to Wii U to Switch, along with the parallel handheld path, form factors usually change pretty significantly between generations. Here, I’m seeing this described as an “iPhone upgrade” that barely looks different, but is perhaps slimmer, with a bigger screen, etc. On the surface it seems like some of the upgrades the Switch already has gotten, like the OLED version.

But the unsurprising part is, I mean, why would you want to change it that much, given what a success the first Switch has been? The Switch has sold 143 million units, second only to PS2 and the Nintendo DS, and arguably within a more competitive market, now also competing with mobile. There is really no need for extra gimmicks or add-ons here, as the thing most players will want is simply a significant power upgrade for their current Switch, which is what this looks to be even if it will still be behind the current generation of PS5 and Xbox Series X. Supposedly the goal is PS4-level graphics, instead, which makes sense compared to how last generation went.

There is also a lengthy specs list from the same report, the technical explanation of “it’s more powerful,” if you’re interested.

• SoCl (CPU + GPU) model: GMLX30-R-A1.
• Memory model: MT62F768M64D4EK-026 (6GX2 dual channel, LPDDR5X, 7500 MT/s)
• Flash memory model: THGJFGT1E45BAILHW0 (256GB, UFS 3.1, manufactured by Kaixia, 2100 zB/s).
• Audio chip model: Ruiwu ALC5658-CG.
• NFC reader model: NXP IPN7160B1HN
• Built-in microphone model: CMB-MIC-X7.
• Dual cooling fans, model BSM0405HPJH9 and BSM0505HPJQC (copper gaming heat sink).
• Video signal conversion (DisplayPort to HDMI) must be chip model; Ruixian RTD2175N must be chip (support HDMI 2.1).
• Network chip model: Ruiming RTL8153B-VB-CG and Gigabit Ethernet chip (the base has a network cable interface).
• Microcontroller chip model: STMicroelectronics JSTM32G0OB0OCET6.
• Video game console protective case model: HGU1100 (size: 206 x 115 x 14mm, made of plastic).
• Speakers: MUSE BOX-L and MUSE BOX-R (two-channel stereo).

I have to admire Nintendo’s restraint here in not going off the rails trying to reinvent the wheel and stumbling into a Nintendo Switch situation. A better Switch is all anyone wants and well, here it is, apparently.

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