The Nintendo Switch 2's First Teardown Reveals Its Secrets and Xbox's Next Console Name Causes A Stir

If you are anything like me, you are probably always curious about what is inside new tech. The Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo's upcoming console, has already made its way into the wild. And even before the first full reviews came out, a YouTube channel called ProModding shared a 17-minute teardown video of the handheld. This video gave us close-ups of its custom Nvidia processor. It is always interesting to see how these devices are put together and what might be hidden inside.

The teardown seems pretty simple if you already have the right tools. Nintendo did hide a few screws and release latches under stickers on both sides of the console. But if you have the tools and do not care about losing your warranty, removing ribbon cables and other connectors looks fairly easy. I find it fascinating how much care goes into hiding these small details, almost like a little treasure hunt for tech fans.

This early look inside the Switch 2 did not give us many new details about the internal hardware. But ProModding did share a few observations about the console. The Joy-Con controllers fit tighter when attached to the Switch 2 than they did on the original, which is good news for many players who found the old ones a bit wobbly. However, they can still be wiggled a little. Nintendo also seems to be using the same kinds of thermal paste it used on the first Switch. Some gamers have replaced this paste themselves to make their consoles perform better and last longer. This might be a popular mod for the new console as well.

Early Looks At The Nintendo Switch 2 Point To Some Familiar Flaws And Design Choices

What The Initial Teardown Reveals About The Console's Construction And Repairability

One of the less exciting details from the teardown is about the folding support stand on the back of the Switch 2. ProModding noted that it is "too flimsy" and carries a "high risk of breakage" if you try to unfold it from just one side. This is something I hope Nintendo improves before the console is widely available. A strong kickstand is pretty important for a portable device, especially if you plan to play it in tabletop mode often. No one wants a wobbly screen during an intense gaming session.

If you are wondering how easy the Switch 2 will be to fix, we might have to wait for iFixit’s official teardown. iFixit recently lowered the repair score of the original Nintendo Switch. They changed it from an 8 out of 10 back in 2017 to a 4 out of 10. This change was based more on its battery setup and how competitors like Valve’s Steam Deck have improved their repairability. It also factored in the often problematic Joy-Con sticks. I think knowing how easy a console is to repair is important for gamers, especially as these devices get more expensive.

Nintendo has said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles in its current financial year. Some market watchers think that number is on the low side. Nintendo, on the other hand, says the price of the Switch 2 is why they are keeping their estimate modest. But what does that really mean for the console's success? Will hitting that number guarantee the Switch 2 will be a huge hit? If a console sells out right away, what does that tell us? Is there still a chance of a Wii U-style flop? I find these questions interesting because launch numbers do not always tell the whole story.

Looking at Nintendo's past console launches can give us some hints. To get a better picture than just the initial sellout, I have looked at a console’s first year of sales. This means its first four financial quarters on the market. It is important to note that Nintendo only started reporting quarterly sales around the mid-2000s. Older sales data is sometimes only annual and hard to find. Also, older systems had staggered launches across Japan North America and Europe, sometimes over several years. This could slow down their early sales numbers. Still, some results are surprising and help us understand Nintendo’s 15 million forecast for Switch 2.

Comparing The Nintendo Switch 2's Launch To Past Console Sales Records

Understanding What A Strong Start Really Means For A New Nintendo System

The Game Boy Advance and the 3DS are Nintendo’s two fastest sellers. They followed massive hits in the handheld market, the Game Boy and DS, where Nintendo was dominant. Nintendo was so confident about the Game Boy Advance that it predicted 24 million sales in its first year. The 3DS followed Nintendo’s biggest seller ever. Both sold well but neither quite matched the lifetime sales of their predecessors. This shows that even a strong launch does not guarantee everything.

The Switch and the Wii are the only Nintendo consoles with over 10 million sales in their first year and over 100 million in their lifetime. Both sold very consistently over time. This is what Nintendo probably wants for all its hardware launches. They are surely hoping for the same with the Switch 2. The DS surprisingly did not launch as strongly. Its early games were not the best, and it took some time for the console’s unique design to find its huge casual audience. It really took off in its fifth quarter, during the holiday season of 2005. I find it interesting how some consoles take time to truly connect with people.

The GameCube and Nintendo 64 both had fairly strong launches. But their sales dropped off because they did not have enough games. The GameCube sold 30% of its total lifetime sales in its first year, which is a bit sad. It even beats the Wii U's bad ratio. The Game Boy is famous for being an instant hit, thanks to Tetris. But while its launch was healthy for the time, it did not show what Nintendo’s defining handheld would achieve. First-year sales were only 3% of what it would go on to sell across Game Boy and Game Boy Color. The Wii U, Nintendo’s most recent flop, actually started quite strong, selling over 3 million units in its first three months. But then sales fell very sharply, selling less than 900,000 worldwide for the rest of its first year. The signs of trouble were clear very early on.

If Nintendo meets or goes over its goal of 15 million Switch 2s sold in its first financial year, it will be among the best Nintendo console launches ever. A Wii U-style flop seems very unlikely unless sales drop sharply after the first few months. The most telling comparisons are the Game Boy Advance and 3DS. Like the Switch 2, they were conservative, easy-to-understand follow-ups to huge sellers in a market Nintendo controlled. And while both reached respectable total sales, they never got close to the lifetime sales of their more experimental predecessors. Could this be the Switch 2’s fate? Judging by Nintendo’s history, it is possible, maybe even likely.

Xbox's Next-Gen Console Name Is Already Causing A Stir Among Fans

Why The Rumored "Xbox Prime" Is Drawing So Many Reactions Online

While Nintendo prepares its next console, Xbox is also working on its next-gen system. This console is currently in development, and we do not know when it will be released. But the rumored name for it is already getting roasted online. Some people might say it is too soon to talk about next-gen consoles. But the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 came out years ago. I think it feels too soon because it does not feel like the games have fully caught up to the hardware yet.

No matter what, Xbox is putting its resources into the next console. And the rumored name has fans giggling. The Xbox One, the Xbox One X, the Xbox Series X, these were all not great names for new hardware. But this rumored one takes the cake. According to a leaker named Ghost Of Hope, Xbox’s next console is currently called Xbox Prime. This might be the worst name they have come up with so far. To be fair, this could just be a codename. We will not know for sure until an official announcement. But knowing Xbox, its real name will probably be just as odd. Maybe it is finally time to just go with the meme and make the Xbox 720 a reality.

Fans found the rumored name funny. Many responded on Reddit saying things like "Microsoft is actually stupid enough to do something like this." Another person added "I'm expecting the Xbox Prime is just a codename just like Xbox Scarlett, the actual console name will be something like: Xbox X Series XX." Others think the name makes sense because of recent marketing. They said "You can play Xbox everywhere but this is the Xbox Prime." Xbox does have a showcase coming up soon. But I doubt we will hear anything about the new console there. We probably will not hear anything until next year at the earliest. I think this shows how invested people are in these console wars. Every little detail gets picked apart.