None of that actually anwsers my question though. Both ipad sales and Samsung galaxy tab sales have been in decline. Ipads recently had their worst quater since 2012. You can't just compare how much tablets sells compared to the 3ds and Vita and assume that is how much the NX will sell because thats not how it works. Both Samsung and Apple has marketing that is light years ahead of what Nintendo is capable of and yet, both are in decline. 

Why do you think both Samsung and Apple are releasing bigger phones along side their smaller varients? (And Samsung of course has their Note line) Phones are eating up the tablet space as well due to the inconvience of carrying one...

Bigger phones have had an impact for sure, because they offer some of the benefits of a tablet. So that's definitely having an impact. 

Still the tablet market is bigger (far bigger) than what's left of the "traditional handheld market" which is basically like 10 million 3DS' a year, a big chunk of that coming from Japan and Vita ... well ... yeah. 

I think Nintendo made their decision after doing research on kids, and if you really open your eyes to what's happening with kids, like look around next time you are in an airport ... it's a fucking sobering thing here. 3DS/Vita aren't getting killed by tablet-like devices. The got killed, dragged for another 100 km, buried in a hole 100 feet deep, and left to rot for 2 years. 

That's where we're at. I think Nintendo really made this decision like 2+ years ago, that's when they decided to make the deal with DeNA to make mobile apps, that is when the genesis of the NX hardware would be taking place ... I think they made the decision then that mobile gaming was something they had to accomodate rather than try to compete head on against, because they can't compete head on against mobile. I think Nintendo already had this debate like two years ago ... and this is the result of the debate (a mobile centric platform in NX, and going ahead with smartphone games). 

All a "4DS" would accomplish would be to sell less than the 3DS. NX *might* have a chance to sell more or hold even with 3DS if they can tap even 5% of the tablet market per year.  

Nintendo doesn't have to make a tablet better than the iPad. If they can make a device that eventually settles in for $200-$250 that is way better than a bunch of those shitty Chinese tablets, they could carve out a decent piece of pie for themselves. A small piece of pie is still better than breadcrumbs. 

Yea but the issue isn't that the handhelds are getting rekt by phones. The issue is that they are entering a market that is also getting rekt by phones that is more competitive than the handheld market.

Sure the tablet market is bigger but it is also filled with more competition and it is in decline. And Nintendo's research isn't exactly what I would call consistantly right. Otherwise the wiiU wouldn't have happened. 

All I am saying is, have two skus. One that is 4-5 inch that is cheaper while the other is 6.2 inch which is more expensive and see which one sells... Cause putting everything into a device that is entering a very competitive market that is also is decline is not a wise choice imo.

And as for your argument with the whole "Tablet is a bigger market." If we look at the shipments and who Nintendo can compete against and take market share from:

We know that they can't compete against Apple or Samsung. So most likely, they will be competing against the others whoes yearly shipments are around the same as the 3ds... Oh and remember that tablets in general are in decline so its even less this year and most likely even less when the NX actually comes out.

Well, you are just missing one point:

There will be just one tablet with console-like-games and Nintendo-games. Also only one tablet which games are tailored to the exact hardware. This will be the selling point.

Edit: This is the blue-ocean-strategy. Create a market which doesn't exist before and cater to it, because you have the advantage of being there first and having your second-generation-products on sale when the competition is busy copying your first-generation-product. Nintendo did this with DS and Wii, big markets which didn't exist before.

where do you get that info from? if you're assuming then the info is useless like the info of the nvidia gpu. Also, the info of the raw power.

And you are ignoring the competition and marketing from the other companies. Causals will see it as a tablet that can play games which other tablets also can. The others will also have more functionality than Nintendo's will if we go by Nintendo's History. And if only Nintendo fans will be buying it cause they care the most about Nintendo games, then I don't see why it would sell more than the 3ds or being a tablet is an advantage cause Nintendo fans will buy anything Nintendo.

Not saying NX will flop or anything cause we don't know what the NX is yet. But I am saying that they will benefit from releasing two skus.

another weird thing that struck me. 6.2in,  the exact size as Wii U gamepad screen (but higher rez).  So its not even a mini tablet in size, making it closer to phablet form. idk mayn....

Didn't see the edit in time.

The thing is... The wii/ds were new markets which people could easily distinguish. Where as with the NX, as far as the rumors and concept arts and etc go, they are entering a market which people cannot easily distinguish. Its a tablet that can play games and can connect to the TV... K? How is that any different from all the other tablets apart from the gimmick of being able to take off the controllers. (Which really is like taking off a case in some ways)

Yes yes it has Nintendo games but we saw how far Nintendo games alone can go with the 3ds. So... Whats the advantage of being a tablet and entering a declining market?

maybe just the development kit

Actually people couldn't easily distinguish the Wii/DS markets before either device launched, before then people were unsure of them and predicted both devices to flop.

People can't distinguish new markets before they take off because their mindset is rooted in current markets.