That I was saying: total hardware in japan(including other plataforms) is down yoy, switch is up('despite switch doing better"). I meant that japan lost space in hardware, and it is because of 3DS and vita being down, there is demand for a cheaper device.

When you say an smaller switch, you mean with all switch features, like detachable joycon, and a dock? What I meant was a device without these features, but that plays the switch games. Just call it other name because it could not switch between TV and tabletop modes, is handheld only (I mean, there is no point in calling it a switch if it does not switch...) I meant that the 3DS sucessor is the same as the 'mini switch', whichever the name they give to it.

Switch Mini/Pocket for around $200 for launch price point, seems to me like safe bet.

Mini Switch makes a lot of sense. Question is can they really shrink the switch while keeping the cost down?

May I ask why what do you see yourself getting out of a Switch with no dock. Is it just the few dollars you would save  once you take into account the additional cost for a charger for a dockless switch really enough to stop you buying a switch. or is there more to it. Now I'm not gainsaying a person's right to want what they feel suits them, I just don't see Nintendo seeing enough of a positive cost benefit to prioritise it.

Probably they could, only handheld mode, that means without internal and external parts required for docked play, so no dock, no HDMI cable, built in Joy Cons without some features, smaller factor size, smaller package, smaller shipping price..

We probably talking around $100 difrence, think about around $200 for Switch Mini/Pocket vs $300 for regular Switch, or around $150 vs around $250 (potential price point in time of release). That's quite big difference and plenty of people dont want to pay extra money for docked mode if they only want handheld play, also plenty of people would start buying multiply Switch units per household. Nintendo definitely has something similar on mind now when 3DS is dying and they will left without low price offer of their hardware on market, 3DS curently has price point from $80-200 while Switch is $300, they will definatly need next year latest replacement for 3DS price point.

Understood but I am not saying I want that.

Just thinking how Nintendo can make the 2 different.

No dock will mean only portable but same games and no need of 2 development teams.

Yea obviously the Switch is the 3DS successor. Releasing another handheld system would cannibalize Switch sales and would hurt Nintendo.

The 3DS will continue to be the low cost portable option until the Switch drops in price a good amount. I think we'll see the new 2ds at $100 soon and the 3ds at $150 in order to keep them selling and allow room for the Switch to drop price next year to $250. I think at some point there will be a deluxe version of the Switch entering at $300, and a cheaper small version to replace the 3DS at a more normal handheld price once the 3DS finally dies off. Though I am really not sure how they would market a portable-only Switch since the whole name of the system is based on switching between portable and console. It'll be interesting to see what Nintendo comes out with.

By 2020 3DS will be on its last legs and Nintendo will probably introduce some sort of smaller cheaper version of the Switch to be at a more normal handheld-price.

I dont think they will ever cut the price of N3DS, i think N2DS XL was their way of getting the premium version down in price and will phase out N3DS, it only accounted for like 15% of shipments last quarter.

But overall i agree with what you're saying.

Would it not be just as easy for them to sell the switch at a lower price point when a cheaper fab process allows. if they decide to use the shrinkage to make a smaller switch it could still have a small dock lets face it the dock's current size is because of all the plastic used to house the switch inside rather than the connectors it houses.

No, around $200 price point for current Switch maybe could be realistic in 2-3 years, they cant wait that much, 3DS is dying and instead they will need most likly low price point next year, and Switch Mini/Pocket could potentialy have around $100 lover price point than regular Switch in any case (if Switch is $300 it could be around $200, if Switch is $250 it could be around $150). Also its not point only about low price point, they will want to have difrent price points of Switch, look at 3DS, they covered price point of market from $80 to $200, Switch has also great potential for different revisins and different price points (regular Switch, Switch Mini/Pocket, Switch Pro/XL, maybe Switch Home Only...). Only handheld and dockless Switch would still have much less costs than only smaller current Switch with dock, that means also lower price point, also I dont talk only about plastic, I also talk about smaller screen, for instance around 5" screen with built in Joy Cons, that would make much smaller Switch compared to current one, plenty of people would easily start buying multiply Switch units for household, and thats Nintendos ultimate goal for Switch, to be devaice per person not per household.