Most of this thread is people asking for more powerful hardware, better online, and for Nintendo to add the basic shit that they always seem allergic to adding, like achievements and voice chat and...something, anything, better than Friend Codes. I want all that, yeah I want backwards compatibility, yeah I want Nintendo Switch Online's NES and SNES games day one and the Virtual Console, I want all that. But that's some pretty basic shit. Y'all need to dream a bit bigger. I want new form factors.

Right now we have two form factors, the handheld mode and the docked TV mode. We sort of have a third one with the kickstand and undocked JoyCons that turns it into an experience kind of like a home console with a tiny screen, but I wouldn't really count that. I want more. Two more, to be exact. One for VR and one for AR. This could take the form of special headset docks. The new Switch itself would hopefully be about as powerful as a PS4, and the TV dock would hopefully get it close to the PS4 Pro. The VR dock would too, except it would take the form of a helmet that the Switch slid into such that the console's screen came down over your eyes and became the headset's screen. So like Labo, but not cardboard, and with hardware capable of giving you an image that wouldn't destroy your eyes and give you a migraine if you played for more than a few minutes. Something approaching, but probably still a bit behind, where PS4's VR was, but since it's powered by a portable console, you could play in VR mode in any room with no additional setup necessary, just the headset. For the AR form factor, it would also have a headset dock, but one more like the Hololens. This headset would have a Hololens style screen attached that it used as the main screen, and the docked Switch would cast to that screen.

Perhaps to save money on all these docks and extra hardware, there would only be one dock, that was made to do all three modes, and just one headset, and depending on where you docked the Switch it could be AR or VR or TV mode. Wear the headset facing the VR side and dock the Switch there to enter VR mode, with the AR Hololens style part on the back of your head. Wear the headset with the other way around so that the Hololens style screen is in front, and dock the Switch in a different spot, and it enters AR mode. Set the headset on a flat surface and dock the Switch in the top to enter TV mode. These plus the portable mode would make for 4 clear form factors to game with, all in one console. Rather than call it the Switch 2, call it the Switch Squared, because the form factors grew exponentially. Launch the system with Metroid Prime 4 playable entirely in VR mode with VR exclusive enhancements, and with a Pokemon Go spinoff that turns your house (or wherever you play) into a Pokemon Safari playable in AR mode, and you got yourself a smash success just waiting to happen. They might even be able to release "Lite" versions that just have one of the form factors, like Switch Lite this gen was just the portable mode, A "Lite" version for AR or VR could be made, that would make the headset more appealing and lightweight, so you wouldn't feel quite as ridiculous taking it out of your house. Since there wouldn't be that many AR or VR experiences most likely, these Lites would probably have to have one of the first Switch's form factors, either TV or portable, so it could still play the rest of the library, but it would still have its advantages and appeal to certain people. I'd image they'd take the form of headsets that had the Switch built in instead of docked and that could connect to a TV the same way the launch dock could (perhaps Switch Squared could dock to TV's wirelessly?). Obviously this all is a pretty rough concept, but I feel like it's a good one, too good to pass up. Nintendo would have to hammer out the design kinks to what is most comfortable and convenient, but a 4 form factor Switch is doable, and would make it very clear that this was a whole new Switch. 

I'd like the ability to play the next system in a vertical mode without needing a 3rd party accessory. If Switch 2 had some simple yet effective way to flip from horizontal play to vertical.

I think improved battery and being able to play in 4K docked/1080p undocked will be potential features. I also would like to see more features in the Joy Cons and see what Nintendo does with new experiments. They’re at their best when they get a chance to experiment new gameplay opportunities.

The challenge will be if Nintendo can get both power and battery, along with reduce heat, and keep production costs down to release a Switch 2 at a reasonable price. With the Switch, they aimed to avoid taking a loss with the console. I don’t see them changing that mindset since they’ve been that way for decades. If the tech is old enough that production doesn’t become too complicated, then I could see it in a few years or so.

I don't know. Then had this ever worked in the past? Different models of the same gen, yes, but two gens coexisting?

Agree, no reason to rush into the next system. Just keep pumping out them games on Switch.

Exactly right. They are in their own market space so there is no need making a Switch 2 that is a minimal upgrade in 2 years time. Should be a significant improvement to make it worth while jumping from Switch to Switch 2.

I expect a self jacking off machine so I can sit back and relax.

I think Nintendo will do market research. They will add a camera because every kid is obsessed with cameras. And they've hit the gold mine with this design and need to capitalize on it with more power as soon as possible. Soundwave is right that building your business if it is possible is the way to go. Platform totals don't mean anything. We can patch over the internet and we have platform compatibility. Nintendo can promise like Microsoft to release first part games for both platforms and go ahead and release a new Super Switch as soon as possible. The CPU in the Switch is from 2014 and so a 2020 release with 2019 ARM CPUs would be 5 years of upgrades. Go for it and do it now, it doesn't cost any extra money. They can keep the $299 price even.

OK so rereading everything.

There appears to be two camps.

The first is 2021/22 where they want to see a Switch 2 release and think the power will be close to base PS4

The second is 2024/25 where they see no reason for a Switch 2 soon as it is not competing with the competition anyway so may as well try to bridge the gap to PS5 a bit more and develop better batteries to last longer in portable mode.

Which camp is right will ultimately depends on what Nintendo want to do in terms of support. I think both are possibilities if Nintendo don't just stop supporting Switch similar to how they let the Wii die.

I think if a Switch Pro is imminent, and it will be a pretty substantial upgrade, but there are still ways to ensure Pro games still run on older Switch models while still having an upgrade for Switch Pro.

Then that probably would move a full blown Switch 2 into 2023.

Ultimately consumers decide in the end. A company can huff and puff and talk all they want about lifecycles, doesn't mean anything if consumer interest starts to wane.