Chipmaker Qualcomm developing Nintendo Switch-like Android device

By Ashika Rajan, Trainee Reporter
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The American multinational corporation Qualcomm is reportedly developing an Android-based handheld gaming console similar to the Nintendo Switch. The device will be powered by Qualcomm silicon and may hit store shelves next year if everything works out as planned.

The device will have removable controllers similar to the Joy-Con, an SD card slot, Android 12, and of course 5G, according to the sources, which includes pictures seen by web blog Android Police. The console would come with detachable controllers like Switch, a 6,000mAh battery with a fast charge.

Mr. Mishaal Rahman Editor in Chief of mobile software development community XDA tweeted that the screen could be 6.65 inches in size and have a resolution of at least 1080 pixels (the switch screen is 6.2 inches and runs at 720p).

In other words, the switch sounds like a big smartphone with connected controllers and active cooling, which may not be a bad thing given that the switch also resembles a large phone. But it also has a library of great games that only it can play. There are many excellent games available on Android as well, like Fortnite and Genshin Impact.

Qualcomm needs to provide consumers with a compelling reason to play these games on a separate device rather than on their Qualcomm Snapdragon gaming phones with built-in buttons or controller accessories (or on regular phones).

Device samples are often created by chip manufacturers, including Qualcomm, to assist other manufacturers in designing their SOCs or radios. Labeling occurs when these reference products are marketed by other companies under different brands.

Whether the device becomes a product or not (it can be easily undone before it enters the public domain), Qualcomm appears to be working on a unique Android gaming device. It’s easy to see why the company will be keeping an eye on the gaming portable gaming market which has been heating up since the release of several high-profile mobile devices dedicated to gaming.

Related: Nvidia-ARM deal: Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm want regulators to intervene

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