Highly Unlikely
All we know right now is that Nintendo are planning something. A new Nintendo Switch. But not a replacement. It’s the S version. The R version. The X version. The upgrade or the alternate model. Of course, with this simple rumor, comes RAMPANT SPECULATION. We have a whole loot of possibilities to think about. Including:
- 4K support?
- VR or AR support?
- Hardware Upgrade?
- Mini?
- Larger?
- Handheld only?
- New dock?
- Will the old dock work?
- Larger storage?
- Bigger battery?
- Price change?
- Ethernet port?
- Cellular support?
There’s nothing we can do to really prove any of these things are going to happen. We just have to wait and see what they have in store for us in 2019. Maybe we’ll hear more in March? As for that last point, cellular connectivity is the least likely option out of all. Here’s why:
In order for Nintendo to include cellular connectivity on their Switch, they would have to make a contract with every mobile carrier available. Per country. These deals are very expensive due to telecomm regulations and the oligopoly the “Big Four” have on cell service in the USA. Most likely they would have to pick an independent deal with maybe one carrier, say Verizon because they have a truckload of money.
But this also means you would have to activate the switch as a new line on the Verizon network. That means you have to pay an activation fee. And the pay whatever their monthly cost is over amount of data you use, and we have no idea how much data is used to run games online like Splatoon. I’ve seen people play Battlegrounds on a Metro PCS phone with a WiFi hotspot. So it may not be much, but yeah, that’s more money on top of the $20 yearly fee. A LOT more than the yearly fee. And then there’s IMEI registration…
IT’S HARD TO PULL OFF OKAY?
I’m personally hoping for a mini. I like minis. I’d buy an iPhone SE if I ever bought an Apple phone only because it’s so small.