Six Nintendo patents that seem to depict a Switch Micro like device were filed on 2023-11-02 and published on 2025-05-08.
Patent WO2025094364 describes a novel button layout aiming to maximize the screen size on a compact gaming handheld.
Since there’s no Joy-Con, patent WO2025094358 shows an IR camera built into the console body instead.
The device may be shipped in a Labo-like packaging that can be transformed into a periscope toy, utilizing the IR camera (patent WO2025094370).
To round it up, Nintendo also filed patent WO2025094381 for cooling, and patents WO2025094353 and WO2025094368 for button mechanisms.
While a Switch Micro may not arrive soon, these patents reveal significant R&D into miniaturization. Given how certain past patents telegraphed Alarmo and GameShare, I wouldn’t rule out a future Switch lighter than Lite.
[Originally posted on 2025-05-19 Pacific Time]
