Nintendo Switch rival reportedly coming — and it runs Android

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The Nintendo Switch is such a good idea, it's really somewhat surprising that more companies haven't tried to iterate on Nintendo's formula. Sure, y'all can stream Xbox games to your phone, or PS5 games to your computer, but it'due south not quite the same matter as seamlessly transforming a handheld panel into a TV accessory.

That could all modify, however, thanks to a new handheld game console from Qualcomm — one that looks similar the Switch, just runs on Android.

Information comes from Android Constabulary, a reputable news and reviews site dedicated to Google'due south ubiquitous Bone. David Ruddock, the site's editor-in-chief, cites a "source familiar with [Qualcomm's] visitor strategy."

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While the site'southward pedigree doesn't absolutely guarantee the written report'due south veracity, it does aid lend acceptance to the idea — as does the specificity with which Ruddock discusses the handheld's potential features.

Start and foremost, Qualcomm's handheld system volition run on the company's powerful Snapdragon processor. In fact, because the console will be effectually the size of a Switch, the visitor is complimentary to utilize larger, more powerful components, relative to smartphones. The device will as well sport a 6,000 mAh battery, although its verbal battery life volition likely depend on games played, settings employed and a variety of other factors. The arrangement will also have removable controllers, much similar the Switch's Joy-Cons. Supposedly, the whole device would cost about $300.

More than importantly, Qualcomm'south handheld organisation will be able to output a signal to HDTVs, just like a Switch tin can. Information technology's unclear whether this will happen through a dock, or a cable, or either one. The connectedness in question could be either miniHDMI, or a USB-C pulling double duty for charging and display.

The major mode that Qualcomm'southward console will differ from the Switch, of course, is that information technology will run on the Android Bone rather than Nintendo's more restrictive interface. Unless Qualcomm plans to implement a specialized UI (which is possible, but doesn't seem likely), users will be able to use the device as a gaming console, a streaming media player, a web browser and even a productivity accessory. In theory, this makes information technology a lot more than versatile than a Switch.

On the other mitt, information technology also means that the game library may not exist quite be what Nintendo fans are used to. Mostly, Android games aren't long, involved experiences, and few take a storied developer similar Nintendo behind them. Y'all can admittedly stream a variety of excellent PC games through services similar Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta), but they're reliant on potent Cyberspace connections, which limits utility on the go.

Still, there's e'er the possibility that bespoke gaming hardware will bring out more dedicated games on Android. Furthermore, according to the Android Law report, Qualcomm doesn't seem to desire to unseat the Switch. Rather, information technology'south a style to come across how gamers might embrace a device that lives somewhere between "smartphone" and "defended console."

Assuming that the device completes evolution, it should be out in early on 2022. And by then, who knows what else Nintendo might have appear in its own roster?

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Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom'due south Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing groundwork, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.