@DélioPT: That's what I've been thinking, a home console that uses Nintendo's handheld as the controller.

That way, Nintendo don't have to "fear" about smartphones killing the handheld market as they will bring to that market the people like me who don't play handhels (in my case because I find buttons to be too small). And on the console front, with the handheld being released earlier it will provide consumers with more games that would minimize the droughts we are used to, allowing them to play on the go or on the TV screen. That is, assuming the next handheld console has a touchscreen of 720p and that the home console can upscale that to 1080p (or will it be 4K by then?) when gaming on the TV.

And yes, they could sell 2 SKUs of the console, with or without the handheld/controller. But the biggest problem would be price, a 150-200 € handheld and a 200-250 € home console would make it an expensive SKU for those who don't have the handheld. And let's be honest, a 250 € console wouldn't have a lot of power...

In any case, we'll have more basis for this rumors/hypothesis when the next handheld is announced. If it only has 1 screen (and a new name not DS related) then I can see this theories having more ground, because if it's already hard to play with 2 screens with the WiiU, imagine 3!

Having an handheld in advance would provide new gamers with games, but it would also provide both Nintendo and 3rd parties a potential userbase right from the start.

When Wii U came out, 3DS had already sold about 23 million units. If they could use that handheld, by making a smaller investment than the normal investment, Wii U would have had more potential buyers, both because of price and 3DS catalog.
Price isn`t really an issue.
If you think about it, those who bought a 3DS (price when Wii U launched) for 170 or 200 + a Wii U, it would give them 520 or 550 dollars/euro for the whole pack - even if purchased separately in time.

If the second SKU is 100$/€ cheaper (lack of gamepad), the total cost of the package would come down 100 $/€: 420 or 450. Compare that to PS4 price and see how great that combination now looks: for more 20 bucks or euro, you get to have 2 consoles instead of one, with ability to play games of two systems.

I don`t know a lot of specs, but if the handheld screen is comparable to Vita`s screen is size and quality, even if the next gamepad offers the same size and better quality, i don`t think people will complain about the difference. Still, with the lowering prices of parts, i guess Nintendo can offer something better for a smaller price than charged today.

Even if Nintendo made a 250 $/€ console, it would be better than PS4 and XB1 and honestly, i don`t see next generation being a whole lot better. We are already at CGI levels with the new consoles.

Well, if they end doing a controller/handheld hybrid it needs to be smaller than the GamePad, that's for sure.

It should have a smaller screen (the GamePad's one is 6.1" while 3DS XL has a 4.88", and Vita a 5" one) and a lot less plastic.

As for the power of a 250 $/€ console... it's Nintendo. Everything (the good and the bad) is possible.

I cannot see buying a portable for over 150 dollars anymore. I was uneasy on buying the 3DS for 170. Ofcourse that is always changing for me. 250 was way out of line.

I am glad that the 3D feature is gone, because now the 2DS is cheaper.

The use of cheaper (by the looks) plastics, and the lack of hinges that implies an easier and therefore cheaper assembly of the 2DS probably saves more money than the lack of a 3D screen.

My opinion is that a handheld shouldn't cost more than 200 USD/EUR. Between 150-200 is the optimal range for a launch price.

The top screen is apparently a touch screen as well, so they only had to manufacture one set of screens which drastically cuts manufacturing costs