Nintendo has been pretty tight-lipped about the successor to the Switch, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning. With how excited the fan base is for any hint of information, this is hardly surprising. The latest in a series of supposed leaks is that the alleged Nintendo Switch 2 will feature a different design for the kickstand and come with magnetic Joy-Cons, unlike the slide-in-place ones in the current generation.
The information comes from a known leaker on X, but
Nintendo
has not shared anything officially, so take this with a grain of salt.
Related
Potential Nintendo Switch 2 Console Size Measurements Revealed
Potential Switch 2 dimensions leak online, suggesting that Nintendo’s upcoming console will be much larger than its predecessor.
Nintendo Switch 2 Latest Leaks
As posted by @deckywizardyt on X, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will purportedly feature a U-shaped kickstand that runs across the body of the handheld.
The original Nintendo Switch came with a small flip-out kickstand that was just barely enough to hold the handheld up on an even and flat surface. With the Nintendo Switch OLED, the company reworked the kickstand to be a more Microsoft Surface style, giving it a lot more rigidity and support. Now, it looks like the Switch 2 will build on the same design as the Switch OLED and come with a similar kickstand, but in a U-shape.
From the images shared by the leaker, the thin U-shaped stand feels like it will be strong enough to support the handheld more securely than the original Switch, despite its thin design.
-
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid portable and home console that aims to be the only gaming system anyone needs. The hybrid controller is an undisputed success because it provides a high degree of portable visual quality and converts easily into a home console.
-
Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo’s newest system features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. Improvements to visuals, audio, and connectivity make a strong impact on highly detailed gameplay and setup is extremely easy.
Coming to the Joy-Cons, both the original Switch and Switch OLED have ones that slide in from the top to connect to the display, but the Switch 2 may “switch” things up a little. They are said to be magnetic Joy-Cons with dedicated release buttons, retaining the detachable functionality of the handheld.
Given that there would be no locking mechanism, the magnets would have to be strong enough to take the weight of the handheld. Speaking of weight, the post on X also points out that the Switch 2 will be smaller and lighter than the Steam Deck.
That doesn’t really tell us much, as both the original Switch and the Switch OLED are lighter than the Steam Deck, which weighs over 650 grams.
Related
Handheld Gaming Consoles to Get if You Can’t Wait for the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 does not have a release date yet, so these are the best handheld gaming consoles in the meantime.
Lastly, the leaker mentions that the ZL and ZR buttons will be larger on the Switch 2 than on the original Switch.
There is also speculation about whether the Nintendo Switch 2 will carry an LCD or an OLED display. A leaker previously posted that there will be three color options available, which was also corroborated by the Nintendo Switch 2-dedicated subreddit, and that an LCD can be expected. At this point, it is unclear if this refers to a base version of the handheld and if there will be a second version with an OLED display.
In this post, they shared that the three models include a gray (like the original Switch), a white (like the Switch OLED), and a themed one based on Mario Kart 9. This model is also said to come with a curved dock from which more of the handheld will be visible when docked.
Nintendo Switch 2: Expected Release Timeline
Nintendo has confirmed it will announce the new Switch before March 2025, but the leaker mentioned in the initial post that the handheld will be unveiled in January 2025. Interestingly, the Switch 2 subreddit post from NextHandheld mentions that the user will share evidence of having the handheld in their possession on Christmas Day.
More
The Best Retro Handheld Gaming Consoles in 2024
After a long, dormant period, handheld consoles are on the rise again. A retro handheld is an excellent way to experience nostalgic games on the go.