Credit to Brap at Neogag:
http://www.honsoncn.com/nintendo%20switch%20mini/accessories/clear-protective-case-for-nintedo-switch-mini.Html

is this the new cheaper Switch model?

Maybe without the dock, and the joy-cons, such a thing could be priced say ~199$ or cheaper?

The plot thickens. Bloomberg said it was in production so this may be true.

What are extra those slots/openings on both sides (and below the screen)?

Extra airflow ports?

The website page isn't a mockup, you can go to the site yourself and go to the Switch Mini category. http://www.honsoncn.com/nintendo%20switch%20mini/

But the image itself is likely a mockup. Other images on the same page have a different (much lower quality) image, with a different design.

Though maybe the reason the other one looks so much better is because it's actually the first legit image, unlikely but possible. They're pretty sure it's coming though by the looks of it.

The speakers, The Switches speakers are on the bottom of the screen in a part of the massive bezel, if they wanna shrink that bezel they gotta get the speakers outta it.

If it was something like that size I would consider it as a version of the Switch to easily pop in your pocket and take with you as the current switch pretty much has to be backpacked for travel use unless you have large pockets and don't mind carrying the system in 3 parts.

The case has all the ports in the right places, slits for the 2 airflow openings on the rear of the current switch as well as the duct on the top of the system, if it's a fake then people put a little thought into it at least.

Most of the tech in the joycons will still be in there, so the savings from not having them separately will be pretty minor.

I'd see it at $199 only of the current model would go down to $249, too. A 100 dollar/Euro gap would be just too much between the two models.

By looking at the USB-C connector port at the bottom, that Switch mini won't be much smaller than the base model. I think it's even possible to use it with a dock from the base model, although the thumbsticks could be just too close to make it fit. But at least a real D-pad this time around

Edit: Am I the only one who gets reminded to the Wii U gamepad by it's design?

Done a quick calculation and this certainly couldn't be described as a "Switch Mini". It's barely any smaller than an actual Switch. Pretty sure this is fake. It would make an excellent handheld though.

Length of console is around 21cm compared to around 22.5cm for the original

Screen Size is about 6.95", so it's screen is a little bit bigger compared to the original, mainly due to a lack of any of the big bezels on the tablet section, as joycons are non-detachable now.

So has a bigger screen, and is about 5% less length. It would make a great handheld with the bigger screen for a similar size device but it's barely any smaller at all, not a "mini".

If the image is even remotely real, the render is inaccurate, or it won't be marketed as a smaller device, just as a handheld specialised version.

21cm is being generous also, likely cutting off a lot of the curved edge of the Joycon, it's probably closer to 21.5cm.

There is zero chance that Nintendo is giving the specs to companies that make cheap aftermarket cases prior to the public reveal. if this was a branded case, from somebody that Nintendo has a history with, I might believe it. But, there is absolutely no chance that this is real.

With the detachable joycons, each removable part needs to have it's own battery. And each joycon needs it's own set of HD Rumble motors, accelerometers and gyroscopes.

If if you stick them all together you can save a considerable cost. You only need one battery, one set of rumble motors, one set of accelerometers, one gyro. Plus, the "slides" that have to be manufactured to remove and apply the joycons onto the system, don't need to be made anymore. The screen is probably smaller too.

I think they'd save a considerable ammount of money to manufacture this..

That's probably a mockup. But anyway we are just assuming its called the Switch mini. How much smaller do you think the Switch will get?? I think it'll be roughly the same size as the Switch, maybe just slighly smaller, don't think it will be called a Switch mini. It will be cheaper because, as Azelover said, there is definite cost savings when building in the controllers and main part as a single unit. They can get rid of multiple batteries, accelerometers, gyroscopes, also that sensor on the bottom of one of the joycons, the slides that connect the joycons to the system, the extra tops to the joycons that make the controller bigger on its own, might get rid of that kickstand too, the controller shell for the joycons isn't needed anymore, and the dock isn't needed (though obviously you'll still be able to buy the dock separately for the insane $90 to connect this to the tv, but the whole point is it'll sell to people who don't care about that and just want to use it as a portable). All that means plenty of cost savings during manufacturing as well as some cost savings when shipping because the box can be a lot smaller so they can maybe get twice as many boxes in the same space without the controller shell and dock.

Maybe it'll be called "Switch Go" or something. I think we'll see it at $200, with the original Switch dropped to $250, and a beefed up switch at $300.

I doubt they'll do three SKUs that close together in price.  I bet Switch Go (or whatever they call it) at $199, and a slightly revamped standard Switch (bigger battery and screen, smaller bezels, maybe tiny bit improved technical specs) at $299, and discontinuation of the current Switch.  The Switch Pro is likely 2020 release though, while the Go could happen this fall.