Final Friday, we introduced you leaked dimensions of the subsequent Nintendo Swap from the almost certainly supply but: a “3D scan of the particular {hardware}” obtained by case producer Dbrand. However case producers aren’t the solely supply of leaks.
A Redditor named “NextHandheld” claims to have seen and touched an precise closing retail unit of the Nintendo Swap 2. I spoke with them, and I’ve now heard and seen sufficient to suppose they is likely to be legit.
Specifically, I’ve seen two pictures of a attainable Nintendo Swap 2 dock, and one picture of the inside of a attainable Swap 2 controller rail, lined in certification logos and with copper contacts uncovered, which additionally exhibits its steel kickstand hinge open at an angle. Notably, the dock was not included within the 3D scan that’s circulating amongst case producers.
If NextHandheld is telling the reality, we now know a very good bit extra about Nintendo’s subsequent console. For instance: as a lot as we’d like it to be known as the “Tremendous Nintendo Swap,” it’ll doubtless be launched because the Nintendo Swap 2.
Title and date
Formally, Nintendo has solely known as it “the successor to Nintendo Swap,” promised to formally announce the brand new console by March thirty first, 2025, and revealed that it will likely be backward suitable with authentic Swap video games.
Unofficially, NextHandheld’s supply has heard it is likely to be introduced as quickly as January — and shared what they declare is first-hand proof with The Verge that it’s the Nintendo Swap 2. I noticed an image of a dock, with the identical brand as as the unique Nintendo Swap, solely with a 2 connected.
It wasn’t far off from this Redditor’s guess:
And whereas NextHandheld says they’re “upset” that the dock doesn’t appear to have any extra ports than the unique — two USB-A, one HDMI, one ethernet, and one USB-C doubtless used for its energy brick — it could have a completely different trick up its sleeve.
Magnetic controllers — lastly with drift-resistant joysticks
In April, Spanish pub Vandal (which accurately reported minor particulars of the Swap OLED earlier than launch) reported that, extremely, Nintendo may substitute the Swap’s controller rails with magnets so your Pleasure-Cons can magically snap into place.
At this time, it now not appears unbelievable, as a result of the picture I noticed of a joystick rail area comprises no rail: it’s only a lengthy, rounded, hole space, with a 13-pin connector that stands out so it might probably slot into the Pleasure-Con. NextHandheld says there’s a bodily magnetic click on while you connect them, and that you simply’ll press a a lot bigger button on the controller, one which’s bodily related to a magnet, to launch. (You may see mockups of such buttons in our Dbrand story.)
Extra importantly, the Nintendo Swap 2 may lastly eliminate the notorious “Pleasure-Con Drift” that plagues its controllers to at the present time. NextHandheld claims the controllers may have magnetic Corridor impact joysticks, which don’t comprise the identical deteriorating sensor materials and may be recalibrated simply.
A U-shaped kickstand
The unique Nintendo Swap had a tiny, easy-to-topple gumstick of a kickstand, and the Swap OLED had a large, flat plate. However the Nintendo Swap 2 will function a U-shaped rail of a kickstand, in response to a photograph that NextHandheld shared with me.
I perceive that the 3D CAD file exhibits the U-shape, too — and case producers have begun sharing photographs of comparable U-shaped kickstands, too. Nevertheless it seems prefer it might be beefier than a number of the mockups floating round:
Further energy when docked?
As soon as upon a time, Nintendo was reportedly planning to launch a Nintendo Swap Professional, one that might output 4K graphics when docked to your TV, no less than partly because of Nvidia’s DLSS AI upscaling. That didn’t occur, however the Nintendo Swap 2’s dock is likely to be designed to let the hand-held run a bit sooner.
On Reddit, NextHandheld cryptically teased that asking if the dock had a fan was “the fitting query,” and in an image shared with The Verge, I can see the alleged dock has large ft round again, ones positioned so it might probably lie down horizontally with out blocking a set of vents.
Whereas I don’t think about you’d deliberately put it on its again, as the hand-held may fall out of the fully open slot up prime, I can think about Nintendo wanting to ensure the console doesn’t overheat should you by accident knock it over.
Intriguingly, NextHandheld says the dock is rated for 60W, whereas the Swap 2 is rated for 45W, each of which might be considerably increased than the unique if true. The unique Swap had an uncommon 39W charger for each docked and handheld modes, which solely supplied as much as 18W for the hand-held.
The numerous issues we nonetheless don’t know
You may dig by NextHandheld’s Reddit feedback or learn this early abstract for lots extra attainable particulars in regards to the new console. However the Redditor is upfront that they by no means bought to show the hand-held on, or play any video games. They don’t know whether or not a Swap 2 can play authentic Swap cartridges, or solely digital Swap 1 video games. They don’t know if it has a microphone, or a digital camera, or how a lot space for storing it has, or its efficiency, or something about its reportedly 8-inch display, or its launch titles.
They do say it would launch in darkish gray, nevertheless, like the unique Nintendo Swap, and that it will likely be adopted by a white mannequin, and one themed with a Nintendo sport that hasn’t acquired a themed Swap but. And, they’re the most recent to probably corroborate a brand new second USB-C port on the highest, although that was clearly revealed within the 3D scan.
If it’s true that Nintendo will announce the Swap 2 in January, although, you received’t have to attend lengthy for extra solutions — or to seek out out if these ones are true.
