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Soundwave on 19 March 2017
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Bofferbrauer said:
Soundwave said:

Thanks to the Tegra X2/Parker chip basically already being available, Nintendo could revise the Switch already. In fact I would guess they already have Switch revision models up and running in their R&D department. 

Because the Tegra X2 consumes about half the power for example, you could have a Switch model that has 5-8 hours of battery life while playing a game like Zelda: BoTW for example and because it would generate significantly less heat, the system could be made smaller too. Now that might be tricky with Joycon size likely having to remain standard, but the right/left black bezels could be cut out, which would significantly reduce the width of the system, while having a better battery life. 

Or conversely you could have dock level performance in undocked mode while keeping the same form factor and potentially a larger screen. So for instance, you could have a Switch that runs Mario Kart 8 Deluxe at 1080p even while undocked. 

My guess is you will see Tegra X2 based Switch systems in 2018 for the first wave of Switch revisions. Something like this

Switch Mini - Cuts down the right/left bezels for more compact size, improves battery life to 5-8 hours. So smaller + better battery. $249.99 MSRP w/game bundled. 

Switch Pro XL - Same size as current Switch, but increases screen size to 7.5 inches 1080p (less bezel), can run at docked performance in portable state. $299.99 MSRP w/game bundled. 

While I do think the Switch will get some upraded version(s), I doubt they will ever put an X2 into the Switch. First the Switch will have to recover it's development costs before a new Model comes out. A Switch with a higher performance hardware won't come out until 2019 earliest, and by then a Volta based Tegra would be the more logical choice - and probably also a cheaper one as I'm not sure if  the X2 will still be in production by then. It won't be Xavier however, as that one is designed for higher performance and consequently more consuption - too much for a handheld design.

What I do expect however is a Switch XL/LL for late next year, with the main change being it's battery life

If they want to make it like the 3DS and provide every year some new hardware, here's my prediction:

2017: Switch

2018 Switch XL/LL: Slightly larger (7-7.5 Inch screen), longer battery life (around 6000 mAh compared to the 4310 of the Switch), fully compatible to the joycons despite the change in size (they just move down a bit deeper)

2019: Switch+: Same size as the original Switch, Volta based Tegra, about twice as powerful (slightly above XBO), slightly better battery as the base model (4500-5000mAh), fully compatible to all Switch acessoires, Full HD Screen

2020: Switch+ XL/LL: Just a Switch XL with the better chipset and Full HD screen

2021: Switch Phone: Instead of switching between Console and handheld, this one switches between handheld and smartphone. Digital only, no gamecard slot (a microSD slot is still provided however). Nonremovable joycons with built-in microphone and speaker for phoning but no own battery for the joycons anymore. No android store, only eShop, but with some added productivity apps and compatible to all of Nintendos smartphone games. Uses Switch+ chip but at a lower clock rate to save on battery life and reduce heat, 5-5.5 inch Full HD screen and 3000-3500 mAh Battery.

2022: Switch mini: A Switch+ shrinked down to Switch Phone size, but with detachable Joycons and gamecard slot.

2023: Release of the successor to the Switch

They don't really even have to use the X2 for extra power. They can merely use it for the die shrink and better battery (which could in turn allow a Switch model to run at full docked mode even when portable though). 

The X2 IS the 16nm variant of the X1. It just happens to also have a higher power mode to go with it. 

That doesn't radically make it that much more expensive. In fact at some point likely it's going to cost Nintendo more money to keep using the 20nm Tegra X1 because no one is going to be using the 20nm node at all.

I also question exactly what R&D cost Nintendo really spent here ... this is a stock Tegra X1 ... a chip that was designed and finished two years ago by Nvidia. Nintendo didn't have anything to do with it other than slapping it into their box. The R&D costs for the Switch are likely largely invested into those Joycons, the chip is just a standard chip. This probably is from an R&D POV one of the cheapest systems Nintendo has ever made.