Latest Nintendo Switch 2 leaks suggest relatively unchanged design, but vastly improved specs
It’s a new week, which means a fresh batch of Nintendo Switch 2 leaks and rumors to sift through. While there’s still no official word on Nintendo’s next console, new images reportedly showing off the system’s design could give us a rough idea of what to expect.
12 images reportedly originally posted on Chinese social media site Xiaohongshu (essentially the regional equivalent of photo-sharing apps like Instagram) have been making the rounds on various gaming forums. They purportedly show the final design of the Nintendo Switch 2, our tentative name for a potential Nintendo Switch successor.
Of these images, 10 are 3D model renders. They show what appears to be a souped-up version of the Nintendo Switch, with a significantly larger screen and a large kickstand that resembles that of the Nintendo Switch OLED. There are also some noticeable differences in the area where the controllers attach to the system, which now appears to be much more recessed.
It also appears that the Joy-Con-style controllers will not slot into the console from the top, but rather slide in from the sides and possibly be held in place via some sort of physical latch or magnets. The controllers themselves look relatively similar to the existing Joy-Con, though there are some changes to the trigger area.
The diminutive Joy-Con release button has been replaced entirely with a much larger trigger-like input. It’s unclear whether this is some sort of reprogrammable extra trigger like the ones found on many of the best Nintendo Switch controllers, or simply a redesigned way to detach the controllers.
The other two images in the set appear to be actual photographs, presumably taken in a production line environment. This would make a lot of sense, especially given recent reports that the Nintendo Switch 2 has entered mass production. One image shows the controller housing in more detail, including larger SL and SR buttons. The other shows what is possibly the tablet portion of the new console, albeit with many components removed.
There’s a printed circuit board present, along with some extra cables. It all looks good, and would tie in closely with some information from an earlier specs leak , reportedly sourced from shipping and customs records from the past few months. That leak suggested the console would retain its handheld form factor, including dock compatibility.
The console is said to come with 12GB of RAM, a huge step up from the existing Nintendo Switch’s 4GB, alongside 256GB of storage. This would be a major upgrade and, combined with improvements to the GPU and CPU, could put the Nintendo Switch 2 somewhere between the Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro in terms of raw power.
Of course, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt. The renders and photos certainly seem plausible, as do the earlier rumored specs, but until an official announcement, it’s still anyone’s guess what Nintendo is planning. Hopefully, the reveal is imminent.
