Your predictions are nice but I don't see that kind of "powerfull" package under $250...

with all these 2016 predictions can anyone tell me the point if the new 3ds then? mid 2017 is my guess because you cant just release a upgraded model, tout that it will have a few exclusive games and then blow it off a year later.

If the 4DS (I hate that name) comes out in the next 2 years or so, it should be AT LEAST equivalent to mid/high-end smartphones of today (which currently retail for $400-500). So I want at least 3GB of RAM, a 720p (main) display at the absolute minimum and a solid quad-core CPU.

Good battery life is a must, too.

Agreed. 

I say around April 1, 2016. Late March if their quarterlies aren't looking too hot at the time (which should, sadly, be the case). Although we'll know by E3 if that's going to be the case. So if it's not at E3 this year, then you're right, but it could well be. Most of these games seem to be about being "better" on new 3DS, and the N3DS-exclusive games could just be limited to more Wii ports.

New 3DS is a bridge between the 3DS and the new one. I wouldn't be surprised to see n3DS software compatible with the new one.

Fusion Handheld (April-May 2016 Japan; June 2016 North America, July 2016 Europe)

Fusion Home Microconsole (November 2016 North America, December 2016 Japan + Europe).

Launch Window Titles: Super Mario Galaxy 3, Animal Crossing Next, F-Zero w/wacky controller for home version, Monster Hunter 5

Build on the same System on Chip design (ARM CPU + AMD mobile GPU 20nm). Handheld features 1 System on Chip with 2GB RAM, Home Version features 2-3 System on Chip's (so 2-3x the CPU and GPU cores) + 4GB of RAM to allow for 1080P play at home on the television.

Are my guesses. No x86 or anything wacky like that. 1 SoC is roughly equivalent to a Wii U (so the handheld is about as powerful as a Wii U, whereas the home version is more powerful being able to run 1080p games with Wii U fidelity without much fuss).

I'm beginning to think they want to do parallel games, not identical ones. That something like Smash Bros 4 will be the way going forward, except that this time a lot of assets can be shared. Not all, but many, and more importantly engine code can be shared, so that instead of having to make Mario Kart 9 and Mario Kart 10, they can just make Mario Kart 9, have a handheld version and a console version maybe with some different tracks and different features, but the core engine work and basic character design is shared, making the "effort" of 1.25 games or 1.5 games, instead of 2 games, but still deliver for both platforms at once, or nearly so. Encourage this with crossbuy (or some form of bundling where the two games separately would cost $90.00, but bought together only cost $70.00) so that it doesn't discourage core Nintendo fans from getting both, and less-passionate fans can pick their choice.

Unless they have completely given up in their quest to bother to get any of Sony or Microsoft's third party support. Otherwise the handheld would hold the console back too much, if they were the same but for resolution capabilities. Two separate devices allows them to at least try at getting games built natively for the console experience.

2017 sounds too early. I'd like it to be early 2018, then home console in late 2018....or 2019.

What exactly make it 4D?! The closest thing humans have ever came to 4D is the thing in cinemas where it's still 3D, but there's steam/bubbles/fog/smells/other unnecessary stuff.

I have a question. To play the handheld games on TV do I need the Microconsole?