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Should Sony create a Switch Like Vita successor that doubles as a phone?

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The Switch had a solid idea but how it was executed didn't give us the full potential of how far that idea could go.

Imagine if Sony made a new portable and like the Switch, the portable is able to be connected to a Television increasing it's power and graphical fidelity. But, unlike the Switch will be capable of 4k and 60fps.

Now, imagine if the device itself is a bit different from the Switch, instead of a Tablet it is like Sony's phones, a 4k OLED 6.5-7 inch mobile device running a modified version of android, and included is a slid pad with shoulder buttons.

This doubles the value proposition, because not only did the Vita not sell but neither did Sonys phones, so like what Nintendo did with the Wii U and 3DS, Sony can create a new hybrid devices that brings together both products into one major success. It will serve as not only a game system, but a phone and productivity tool all at once. When you are playing TV mode the phone still works and you can even answer calls and view text messages as you are playing a game, this is already a thing with apps on PS5 and Xbox already, and for services like discord.

This means that Sony could also have the console available at phone carriers at a subsidized price. It also means that you won't need a separate PS5 it's all one device and it can do everything. So Sony no longer has to try and split resources or spend billions of dollars on two battle fronts when now they only need to win one.

Prices starting at $299 up to $499 based on what processor you want and how much built in memory you need. This is much better than making a traditional Vita successor that many Sony fans strangely beg Sony for. A traditional successor will require Sony to invest a lot of money on powerful device that has only one functionality, meaning in order to make money they would have to repeat what they did with the Vita, high cost games, expensive proprietary accessories and memory cards, the very things that consumers turned away from.

But if they have a Vita|mobile hybrid than they only have to allocate resources and develop for one consoles and they can have it subsidized. Sony already makes niche phones with 4K displays why not just use that technology for a hybrid all in one entertainment device?

Spec would be something like this

Mobile mode
  • 4K 30-60FPS
  • Latest android with customization by Sony
  • Glass body no notch, low bezels
  • AMD Risen 4K CPU
  • AMD GPU chip compatible with lower high settings PC configuration gameplay fidelity.
  • Headphone Jack

Vision mode
  • 4K 60FPS Ray tracing HDR or Dolby Vision
  • Latest android with customization by Sony dual boot with improved PS5 OS.
  • AMD CPU running at higher clock rate 4K, advanced geometry.
  • AMD GPU matches close to Ultra PC settings
  • Headphone Jack
  • Screen in middle of controller can be used for maps or other cool things.

Price tiers would be based on specs and memory.

  • AMD CPU GPU $299 at 500GB
  • Intel CPU and AMD GPU at 500GB at $349
  • Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU at $400
  • AMD CPU and GPU with 1TB at $350
  • Intel CPU and AMD GPU at 1TB at $400
  • Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU at 1TB at $450


These all sounds reasonable. The power will make it competitive just like the PS5 now and would have a 3 year shelf life and then you can upgrade to the XL|PLUS models which will cost the same prices while the originals will sell between $150-$200 less.

This is how the hybrid approach should be handled instead of some bad screen with a HD display and half the res and speed when undocked with a silly Tegra. This method would guarantee 200 million Playstations sold and they would only need one product.
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
Mobile mode
  • 4K 30-60FPS
  • Latest android with customization by Sony
  • Glass body no notch, low bezels
  • AMD Risen 4K CPU
  • AMD GPU chip compatible with lower high settings PC configuration gameplay fidelity.
  • Headphone Jack
Are you serious?? excluding the fact that most mobile chipsets arent strong enough to run ANYTHING at 4k, wouldn't that absolutely decimate the battery?
1440p seems like a much more reasonable target, it looks just as good (will you even notice the difference on such a small display) and it won't kill the battery

even if this idea went through, the Steam Deck would just be better in every way because it's the same concept, but instead of a portable console doubling up as a phone it's a portable PC doubling up as... a PC. there's much more you can do on a computer than on a phone.
 

Ozriel

M$FT
The Switch had a solid idea but how it was executed didn't give us the full potential of how far that idea could go.

Imagine if Sony made a new portable and like the Switch, the portable is able to be connected to a Television increasing it's power and graphical fidelity. But, unlike the Switch will be capable of 4k and 60fps.

Now, imagine if the device itself is a bit different from the Switch, instead of a Tablet it is like Sony's phones, a 4k OLED 6.5-7 inch mobile device running a modified version of android, and included is a slid pad with shoulder buttons.

This doubles the value proposition, because not only did the Vita not sell but neither did Sonys phones, so like what Nintendo did with the Wii U and 3DS, Sony can create a new hybrid devices that brings together both products into one major success. It will serve as not only a game system, but a phone and productivity tool all at once. When you are playing TV mode the phone still works and you can even answer calls and view text messages as you are playing a game, this is already a thing with apps on PS5 and Xbox already, and for services like discord.

This means that Sony could also have the console available at phone carriers at a subsidized price. It also means that you won't need a separate PS5 it's all one device and it can do everything. So Sony no longer has to try and split resources or spend billions of dollars on two battle fronts when now they only need to win one.

Prices starting at $299 up to $499 based on what processor you want and how much built in memory you need. This is much better than making a traditional Vita successor that many Sony fans strangely beg Sony for. A traditional successor will require Sony to invest a lot of money on powerful device that has only one functionality, meaning in order to make money they would have to repeat what they did with the Vita, high cost games, expensive proprietary accessories and memory cards, the very things that consumers turned away from.

But if they have a Vita|mobile hybrid than they only have to allocate resources and develop for one consoles and they can have it subsidized. Sony already makes niche phones with 4K displays why not just use that technology for a hybrid all in one entertainment device?

Spec would be something like this

Mobile mode
  • 4K 30-60FPS
  • Latest android with customization by Sony
  • Glass body no notch, low bezels
  • AMD Risen 4K CPU
  • AMD GPU chip compatible with lower high settings PC configuration gameplay fidelity.
  • Headphone Jack

Vision mode
  • 4K 60FPS Ray tracing HDR or Dolby Vision
  • Latest android with customization by Sony dual boot with improved PS5 OS.
  • AMD CPU running at higher clock rate 4K, advanced geometry.
  • AMD GPU matches close to Ultra PC settings
  • Headphone Jack
  • Screen in middle of controller can be used for maps or other cool things.

Price tiers would be based on specs and memory.

  • AMD CPU GPU $299 at 500GB
  • Intel CPU and AMD GPU at 500GB at $349
  • Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU at $400
  • AMD CPU and GPU with 1TB at $350
  • Intel CPU and AMD GPU at 1TB at $400
  • Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU at 1TB at $450


These all sounds reasonable. The power will make it competitive just like the PS5 now and would have a 3 year shelf life and then you can upgrade to the XL|PLUS models which will cost the same prices while the originals will sell between $150-$200 less.

This is how the hybrid approach should be handled instead of some bad screen with a HD display and half the res and speed when undocked with a silly Tegra. This method would guarantee 200 million Playstations sold and they would only need one product.

I see some of us are not constrained by realism.

You want console quality visuals at 4K 30fps with a low power RDNA2 SoC, great battery life and a 512gb SSD for $299? 😂


And you’re wrong. For a 2017 device, the Switch was executed very well. ARM was the only option then, and they went with the best non-Apple choice.

Buy a Steamdeck and move on
 
Last edited:

AmuroChan

Member
Flagship Sony Xperia phones are already over $1000. So no, I don't see them making a phone/handheld hybrid and sell it for a few hundred dollars.
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
i see people trying to big up Xperia phones. so i suppose yeah they still do but i don't know who the heck is buying those things lmfao.
Sony's basically nonexistent when it comes to phones, Samsung is the leader in the android market followed up by Xiaomi
they exist, i guess... only reason to get them over a Xiaomi or a galaxy is if you really needed that fucking headphone jack on a flagship
 

Shifty

Member
I don't need another phone. That would kill a prospective new sony handheld for me unless it was optional a-la various models of tablet.
 

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
?
On a PORTABLE device? For $499? Is this a joke thread?
it has to be.

even PCs with shit like a 3080/3090 still struggle with RTX and it doesn't look significantly better. putting raytracing in consoles is stupidity so trying it in a portable battery powered device is even more dumb.

HDR on a battery powered system? lmfao. for good HDR you need a lot of brightness and that means shit battery life.

you could argue 4K 60fps is possible but you'd definitely need something like DLSS and even then you'd probably need to still render at 1080p 60fps.
 
Sony has enough hardware to worry about.

The portable market is cornered with switch and Steam Deck. Theres nothing unique sony can bring to the table
 

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
Sony's basically nonexistent when it comes to phones, Samsung is the leader in the android market followed up by Xiaomi
they exist, i guess... only reason to get them over a Xiaomi or a galaxy is if you really needed that fucking headphone jack on a flagship
oh i know. for some people samsung IS android.

i was just saying i keep seeing people trying to talk up Xperia phones as if they're a good choice. if you want an Android it's samsung for majority of people. at a push i'd maybe go with Pixel from google or Xiaomi. you then have shit like Oneplus/Oppo...and then you have Xperia.
 

SeraphJan

Member
If this thing is ever made, Its doesn't really have its targeted audience. It would be too expensive for a gaming device and too clunky for a phone.

This idea isn't something new, it reminds me N-Gage

And for PSP2 or Vita2, there was demand before, but now they have also Steam Deck to compete against, the odds are not good for them
 
Last edited:

Fbh

Member
Even a scaled back version of what you want would cost $1000+ which will already lower the mass appeal, which is important for a console.
Not to mention you'd probably loose a lot of people that don't want 2 phones but also don't want to give up their iPhone or Samsung in favor of a Sony gaming phone.
Also if it runs on Android it's probably going to get hacked and turned into a piracy hub on day 1.
 

Brigandier

Member
I would love for Sony to make another PSP... No dumb propriety memory cards and silly back touch pads just a quality well made handheld that can double up as a game pad for PS5 like the Wii U tablet if Devs take advantage of it.

The PSP felt so ahead of the game, Great piece of kit for it's time.
 

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
The Switch had a solid idea but how it was executed didn't give us the full potential of how far that idea could go.

Imagine if Sony made a new portable and like the Switch, the portable is able to be connected to a Television increasing it's power and graphical fidelity. But, unlike the Switch will be capable of 4k and 60fps.

Now, imagine if the device itself is a bit different from the Switch, instead of a Tablet it is like Sony's phones, a 4k OLED 6.5-7 inch mobile device running a modified version of android, and included is a slid pad with shoulder buttons.

This doubles the value proposition, because not only did the Vita not sell but neither did Sonys phones, so like what Nintendo did with the Wii U and 3DS, Sony can create a new hybrid devices that brings together both products into one major success. It will serve as not only a game system, but a phone and productivity tool all at once. When you are playing TV mode the phone still works and you can even answer calls and view text messages as you are playing a game, this is already a thing with apps on PS5 and Xbox already, and for services like discord.

This means that Sony could also have the console available at phone carriers at a subsidized price. It also means that you won't need a separate PS5 it's all one device and it can do everything. So Sony no longer has to try and split resources or spend billions of dollars on two battle fronts when now they only need to win one.

Prices starting at $299 up to $499 based on what processor you want and how much built in memory you need. This is much better than making a traditional Vita successor that many Sony fans strangely beg Sony for. A traditional successor will require Sony to invest a lot of money on powerful device that has only one functionality, meaning in order to make money they would have to repeat what they did with the Vita, high cost games, expensive proprietary accessories and memory cards, the very things that consumers turned away from.

But if they have a Vita|mobile hybrid than they only have to allocate resources and develop for one consoles and they can have it subsidized. Sony already makes niche phones with 4K displays why not just use that technology for a hybrid all in one entertainment device?

Spec would be something like this

Mobile mode
  • 4K 30-60FPS
  • Latest android with customization by Sony
  • Glass body no notch, low bezels
  • AMD Risen 4K CPU
  • AMD GPU chip compatible with lower high settings PC configuration gameplay fidelity.
  • Headphone Jack

Vision mode
  • 4K 60FPS Ray tracing HDR or Dolby Vision
  • Latest android with customization by Sony dual boot with improved PS5 OS.
  • AMD CPU running at higher clock rate 4K, advanced geometry.
  • AMD GPU matches close to Ultra PC settings
  • Headphone Jack
  • Screen in middle of controller can be used for maps or other cool things.

Price tiers would be based on specs and memory.

  • AMD CPU GPU $299 at 500GB
  • Intel CPU and AMD GPU at 500GB at $349
  • Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU at $400
  • AMD CPU and GPU with 1TB at $350
  • Intel CPU and AMD GPU at 1TB at $400
  • Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU at 1TB at $450


These all sounds reasonable. The power will make it competitive just like the PS5 now and would have a 3 year shelf life and then you can upgrade to the XL|PLUS models which will cost the same prices while the originals will sell between $150-$200 less.

This is how the hybrid approach should be handled instead of some bad screen with a HD display and half the res and speed when undocked with a silly Tegra. This method would guarantee 200 million Playstations sold and they would only need one product.

meme-drugs.gif



So this thing vastly outdoes Sonys current flagship phone but sells for less than half the price?
 

Lupin3

Targeting terrorists with a D-Pad
It would definitely have to double as a phone if I were to be interested.
 
No.

Low cost, gaming-only. Base it off the PS5 SOC and allow as much of the PS5 library to run as humanly possible (but the focus should be on the non-AAA fare).
 

Azurro

Banned
It's not coming back people, stop believing it will. Much like with tablets, there's no console handheld market, it's the Nintendo handheld market.
 

SeraphJan

Member
The only chance I could ever see Sony success in handheld market are in theory make a affordable device with reasonable power, and focus more on portable device specific software.

The reason Nintendo always dominated the handheld market is not because of hardware but because their dedication of software design philosophy that is specifically targeting handheld experience, which no other company does. NDS vs PSP, GB vs GG are some of the prime example why pursuing raw power in handheld market is a not a good idea. People have different gaming habits when playing portable device. Not to mention the "power" market will likely be dominated by Steam Deck or alike in the near future. If Sony is not willing to go that route, they should forget about handheld altogether.

But even Sony is willing to go that route, its a very steep route, they would need years of fanbase build up to reach Nintendo's level of success in handheld market, people just currently do not associate handheld with the Sony brand. Switch is not just successful over a night, they spend 3 decades to build up their fanbase for that market with countless trial and error.
 
Last edited:

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
Sony should just focus on making a good handheld/portable gaming console. Nintendo nailed it with the Switch. It's more successful than anything Sony has done including their "full fat" main consoles with the exception being PS2. I know PS4 is still higher than Switch but not for long.

delete my post again mods. i don't see how this is "war bait"
 
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