Except that upgrades make Nintendo more money. Some people DO upgrade their system, and others will buy the system for the first time once the better upgraded system is out. Nintendo is in the business of making money, so upgrades do make sense.

Also Switch 2 is several years out, so just concentrating on making Switch 2 good is not a good business strategy. They of course have their R&D teams working on making Switch 2 good, but in the intervening years they currently have the hottest video game system ever outside of the DS so of course they are going to focus on making as much as they can from it, which includes upgrades.

With the last update, they say your save data automatically downloads to your Switch. That's one of the reasons why I loved Xbox and bought so many of them. With that option, and some of your suggestions, yes--I would buy a home only version of the Switch. It would need external HDD support. Then I'd just pick and choose which games I take on the go while the rest are stored on my home Switch. In fact, I love the idea, especially if it upped performance!

Maybe, Nintendo tends to fall on their own sword towards the end of a gen. They like the pain I guess.

If they managed 4 years so be it. Happy to wait.

I cannot see any added benefit that justifies a new version of the console with the minor upgrade that they would possibly do now.

I think it's probably true for a number of people, but not for everyone. Many want to upgrade their hardware after X time (for me, I am fine doing it every 2-3 years), and other people don't like the original models, and want something more aesthetically pleasing or with sufficient features. It is different for every generation.

Often updates opens up the market to a much wider audience: the original DS sold decently, but the DS Lite and DSi made it one of the best selling consoles of all time with DS Lite selling 94 million and DSi selling 41 million more. GBA SP sold 43.5 million of the 81 million GBAs. These are cases where more people felt new models were worth it than the original release. I think when it came to DS, it wouldn't have been nearly as successful without the updates.

New generations, the way Nintendo has done them, are crap. It's only guaranteed to be good if Switch 2 is both a new thing + Switch 1 deluxe rolled into one - kind of like how mostly every other electronic platform of any sort does it. I'd be really excited for a new generation Switch that maintains and even improves what I already have on my old Switch.

Here's my internal reaction to that if it happens:

to be completly fair, the plastic screen is part of the reason why the switch is so durable, something that might shatter gorilla glass would just casue a minor dent in a plastic screem

Most phone screens break because people use them while walking over concrete surfaces, this isn't going to happen with the Switch.

There are other things to consider too: the 297 gram, which is about 2X to 50% heavier than a smartphone, but is also a much larger device, plus it has joycons on the sides with protruding sticks, so less fall acceleration and more impact defense.

My primary worry is the overcare I have to take from things that occur frequently during common usage: scratches from loose piece of something in a carrying case, scratches from sliding into a dock, scratches just from things contacting the screen of the switch when it is sitting somewhere. It will be far less common than phones to drop them over concrete; smartphone screens generally don't crack from dropping onto floors, either.

Anyone who has knocked a switch off a desk or coffee table knows that the screen is most likely not even going to connect with anything, it's the joycons that take the brunt of the damage, with plastic parts snapping/scratching from the force; particularly the plastic connection stuff around the rail connector on the joycon.

This actually brings me to another point, I wish the joycons had higher quality parts that wouldn't get damaged from a small drop. And before someone says the perfectly common sense thing of "Well then! Don't knock it around!" hahaha, I wish I could follow that advice, but I have 4 kids.

But they literally have done it with every single handheld they've ever had. There's never been a question about whether or not they will release an upgraded Switch model at some point. That's always been known. If anything Switch will have fewer different models than their previous handhelds. You may not be able to see the benefit, but Nintendo has clearly seen the benefit with every single handheld system they've ever released and continues to see the benefit today. Running games smoother, possibly 4k, bigger possibly better screen, bigger harddrive, possibly added features - a lot of people will see the benefit in that, both people who already own the system and want to upgrade and people who haven't bought the system yet and will be enticed into getting the premium version of the Switch.

As I said, the Switch 2 is still several years away, there is no doubt about that, to say it is two years away is laughable. It makes all the sense in the world that they will release one or two more models of the Switch (a premium hybrid and a Home version would make sense) in the intervening 3-4 years between now and when a Switch 2 comes out. Did you think it wasn't worth it for Sony to release the PS4 Pro, or Microsoft to release the Xbox One X, or Nintendo to release the numerous upgrades to GB, GBA, DS, 3DS??

Here’s another one, rather atypical of what I usually ask for.

ARM technology has increased WAY more than the CISC processors used in the Sony and Xbox lines. The Apple MacBook Air’s M1 chip is a thing of marvel, entry level Mac Minis and MacBook Air machines are outperforming more expensive PCs, and the battery life is insane - 20 hours. These entry level chips (8 core 3.2GHz ARM) are already stomping high end Intel chips in tests - as Intel chips can’t perform well for long due to heating problems - the MacBook Air doesn’t even need a fan. The only company who is going to compete with that line is Nvidia, and that’s where Nintendo gets their chips.

These chips are going to perform better, and they’re going to be much cheaper.

Nintendo bet on the right horse. Now I want to see them conquer.

The only hardware I am missing is a mini dock to plug switch lite on TV. (even at 720 output). Also, with trails to charge extra joycon (cos lite users dont have ways to charge theirs.
Could also be used on regular switch (pretty handy when travelling).

The common argument against a substantially beefed-up Nintendo Switch is that there's no reason for it, 3rd party games aren't driving Switch sale (look at the charts, basically only Nintendo games are in the top-ten consistently) and Nintendo games themselves don't need the extra power as their strong points are fun, good gameplay and art designs based on creativity rather than technology. The argument thus goes further that even if after the release of PS5/Xbox Series S/X when less and less 3rd party AA-AAA ports will drop to the Switch, it doesn't matter because Nintendo only needs first party and indie games. So far, when an AAA game was ported to the Switch, it made Nintendo smile but ultimately, they don't require them!

I disagree with the above argument because Nintendo always talks about expanding the demography: games that attract more girls/females, non-gamers, senior people, etc. In fact, to expand and maintain new demographics is one of Nintendo's main business strategy. There are so many different demographics or to put it more accurately, player types, so that there are thousands of different reasons why a certain player type is buying a console or not (yet). It is one of Nintendo's core ambition to find out why certain player types haven't bought the Switch yet (leaving economy aside, of course if the Switch would be only $50 many would buy it even if they didn't even want one).

It just so happens that one very important and lucrative (because they usually spend lots of money for gaming products) player type is the so called (hard)core gamer. This is a very technophile player who wants to play his/her games in the best possible way. Therefore, naturally, this type of player is gaming on high-end PC and/or on the technically best available console(s). Naturally, this type of player probably will buy a PS5 and or an Xbox Series X at one point. But a Nintendo Switch? Not so much. unless portable gaming is important for them.

How can Nintendo catch these (hard)core gamers? Well, if the new Nintendo Switch is getting a substantial upgrade, so that 3rd party AA-AAA ports will become easier to make and will run and look generally good, Nintendo will get their attention and if they make enticing marketing campaigns they can bring them in. Of course, the question remains, why should they buy inferior ports of games they already have on their beefy PC and home consoles? Well, it's because the laziness of lying on the couch or bed while playing a fantastic AAA game is just too attractive. People are lazy! It's no secret. It's a strong selling point to sell laziness. Especially, adults in their 30' and 40' just appreciate it if they can come home after all the stress and just lay back and immerse themselves into a fantastic world.

I will never agree that 3rd party AA-AAA games aren't important for Nintendo. They always were and they always will be important for any console maker and streaming provider!