The Samsung Galaxy Switch looks like the Nintendo Switch and Samsung Galaxy Fold had a baby together.
“Switch Attach” was nothing more than a duck from YouTube and now we also know why the successor to the Switch isn’t coming in 2024.
The Samsung Galaxy Switch will be released in 2025 and, with its folding screen, it is not for nothing reminiscent of the retired Nintendo DS.
That happened: Samsung bought Nintendo last night for the gigantic sum of 64 billion US dollars (64.1 billion to be precise) and is thus entering the hotly contested handheld console market – Steam Deck and Co. have to dress warmly.
In the course of this, the two companies revealed in a conference call what they have been working on for years. This is what Samsung says:
Today we are proud to present to the world the ‘Mariophone’ project, which we have been working on for years. The Nintendo acquisition was the next logical step toward replacing our smartphones with a new, more versatile device. The Galaxy Switch will not only delight our community with AAA games and match the graphical standards of the Nintendo Switch, but will also be a magical companion – not just for making phone calls, but in all situations.
Doug Bowser, President of Nintendo of America, also has words of praise:
We at Nintendo are thrilled to be working with Samsung and are excited to introduce the Galaxy Switch – an innovative fusion of gaming and mobility. With the Samsung Galaxy Switch, you can now experience your Mario adventures anywhere, anytime while taking calls from Princess Peach!
Let’s take a look at what Samstendo (or Ninsung?) has put on the board.
Finally a technically impressive Switch
Why not merge two of the best consoles? Samsung probably thought so too and, together with Nintendo, developed a design that has both Galaxy, Switch and DS DNA in it.
Samsung sticks with a tried and tested design with the Galaxy Switch.
The Samsung Galaxy Switch features a foldable QD-OLED display that is reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5. Our editor Maxe even wanted something like that.
Samsung has also put a lot of fish on sushi under the hood. For example, as once suspected, no Nvidia chip is used, but rather the in-house Exynos 2200 processor, as in the Samsung Galaxy S22.
All technical data are as follows:
- Display: 7.1-inch QD-OLED folding screen with QXGA+ resolution (2,152 × 1,536 pixels); Full HD in dock mode
- Processor: Exynos 2200
- Random access memory: 12 GB DDR4 RAM
- Internal memory: 64 GB
- Storage medium: Cartridges
- Operating system: Tizen
- Other features: QI charging via dock, IP68 certified
What is particularly interesting is the use of Tizen as the OS, which has previously been used in Samsung’s refrigerators, among others. This is probably intended to simplify the implementation of the Galaxy Switch in the smart home using the SmartThings app.
It looks like Samsung and Nintendo will continue to rely on Joy-Con controllers, which have proven popular but prone to stick drift. Let’s pray to Golden Mario that the companies finally get Stick Drift under control.
Of course, the Galaxy Switch also has a slot for a stylus. This is another nod to the Nintendo DS, which also came with a stylus (which got lost more often than you’d like).
A lot is also happening on the software side.
KI, ahoi!
As with every self-respecting technical device these days, the Galaxy Switch boasts artificial intelligence. In doing so, Samsung is spiking on itself (Where else? There will still be a lot of water flowing down the Han River until Nintendo gets to AI).
Probably the most interesting innovation: Circle to Search is coming to the handheld. You can circle items in the game and display crafting recipes and suitable guides directly via Google.
Do you want to know where the rest of the underground armor can be found? Simply circle the item on the display and find all the information on Google quickly thanks to Circle to Search.
An example from the announcement: If you want to know the location of an item in “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” you circle it and let the AI show you on the map where you can find more of it.
Also new: Live translations. If a game does not have a Europe language version, you can have the texts translated. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work in real time via the console, but you have to call a hotline where the translation will be whispered directly into your ear by an AI.
Supposedly this also works with invented languages. The gibberish of the residents in “Animal Crossing” finally makes sense.
Integrating the console into the Samsung cosmos is also said to be worthwhile. The Galaxy Switch can be paired with the Galaxy Watch to display health and fitness data during active sports games such as “Ring Fit Adventure”.
With a Galaxy Watch on his arm he could have his vital data displayed.
We’re excited to see what else Samsung and Nintendo come up with to enhance the games. Maybe a gesture control for Metroid Prime 4?
We look forward to what Samsung and Nintendo will deliver together. The long-awaited “Metroid Prime 4” would be a start. The team may even go further with a Samsung Galaxy Switch 2 and implement cameras and AR features that the 3DS also had at the time. In any case, we and the world are ready.
