They could release a new phone every 2-3 years, that's not really a big deal.

Where they should focus on is having a nice, vibrant high-quality display for the phone model and a very nice quality camera.

Casual/phone users DO notice those two things.

Smartphone chips and components are so commoditized that it's no big deal, Nintendo could get good components for cheap.

Look at some of those small Chinese companies, they offer phones with high end cameras, high end chipsets, and good displays for like 1/3 the cost of an iPhone.

If it's going to pop out like that and move around, it will 110% look weird. Specially when you are talking with someone and u have this thing poping out. The home button on my Galaxy S7 looks elegant and professionally made. That, combined with how Nintendo handheld generally looks, will not give a premium feel. Nintendo is not Apple or Samsung when it comes to design. And since Apple already has a patent, Nintendo will get sued since Samsung got sued for having a phone with rounded corners.

While I agree that not all Nintendo games needs more than a few buttons, it is still better to have than to not have. Developers need a standard to develop for while gamers need ergonomics and we have all seen how the media reacts when they see something that looks off. Attaching a controller for additional options will make it feel like that extra circlepad addon nonsense that the 3ds had. I just don't see why they need to sacrafice the look of the phone when they can simply include a case which connects to the usb and turns the phone into a gaming device. A phone needs to be able to be taken everywhere without other people looking at it for the wrong reasons.

Against Samsung, Apple and Sony? It will fail.

I think people are getting bored of every phone looking exactly the same to be honest. Something different might not be the worst thing in the world. 

Case can be optional, but I fail to see how a case can look like a normal phone and still have things like dual analog and like eight buttons on it, it's going to look like a monstrosity in that case. 

Having a few discreet buttons on the device are nice in case you forgot to take the case with you because real life is more important and you just needed to get to work on time and didn't have time to think about which gaming add-on/case you were going to take today. 

I think most people aren't considering how much they sell and breaking to norm is also risky.

Well the case doesn't have to be on the phone at all times is my point... Its a case... If say I have to go into a business meeting, I can take the case off and have a professional looking phone but if I just want to game, I can put the case on and play games. The case can also be similar to how moto mods work where there are pins in the back of the phone for the case to interact with the phone and it is magnetized for quick removable. And if they forget the case, they can use the on-screen buttons. 

Sure its not as good as having a few dedicated buttons but it will make the phone look way more professional and it will make sure the person doesn't forget the case next time or the dude/chick will buy another case as a backup. Like maybe have one in the car and one at home.

Cause there is one thing that people will not buy is an odd/ugly looking phone.

I think we're kinda saying the same thing. Case/controller/whatever add-on that is optional. If you want it, great, if you don't want it, great. 

I do think you can have some functional controls on a traditional smartphone layout without completely ruining the design. 

This is a phone with a trackball on it (a physical directional input) for instance, it's not like people would like at you like a nut job for having that. I actually think a little difference in the look is not a bad thing, people are tired of having every phone look exactly the same.

Yea but see thats the issue... That phone looks like the one that my grandfather's dead cat would own. The only people who are so called "tired" are tech journalists who get review samples for free. Most people who own a modern phone aren't tired at all hence why they sell so much.

Having a phone with minimal bezels and a nice screen with a case is the best way to go for a modern design imo. Specially since first impressions count. At its worst, having a modern design phone will have the tech jouralists saying "It looks like every other phone but it has an awesome case that turns your ordinary phone into a dedicated gaming handheld." Vs the worst thing with a different design will be "Jesus Christ what were they thinking, burn it with fire."

Something like that with Dual Analog Sticks. I like the less risky option is all I am saying... Specially if its Nintendo's first mobile. Anyway, thats enough of this topic, I am outz.

I dunno, lol the case example looks 50x more noticable that just having the home button swapped out for some type of joystick or trackball, lol. You can finesse the design it's not like a different home button would cause people to think of it as a different device. 

You can take the case off of the phone... And have an elegant phone... Where as the buttons and trackball will be there permanently and your phone will look ugly and there is nothing you can do about it... I like choices... :/

They can't compete with Apple and Samsung. End of story.