Update: We've spoken to a HonSon representative about the product listings in question, and have been told that the company has based these products on "secret" information and that it is waiting for Nintendo to officially confirm the system before putting these items into production; HonSon will then "adjust the model to ensure it can perfectly suit the console". The representative also confirmed that, based on the information it has received, the Switch Mini is (as the name suggests) "a little smaller" than the current version.

Original Story: Despite the countless rumours that have been circulating surrounding a lower-priced 'Switch Mini' console over the past couple of years, Nintendo still hasn't officially revealed that such a thing exists. For all we know, that could be because it doesn't exist, but these accessories designed specifically for such a console could be a key ingredient in the Switch Mini speculation mix.

Believe it or not, we've been talking about the idea of a Switch Mini since April 2017 - just weeks after the real deal released into the world - after analysts predicted a mini variant would launch in 2019. We're now in 2019 and those rumours have been amplified thanks to further, more detailed reports from the likes of Nikkei and The Wall Street Journal.

Now, we've spotted that Chinese gaming accessory maker HonSon has listed a number of accessories specifically designed for a Switch Mini. Some of the images in these listings feature an old mock-up of the console (so we wouldn't pay too much attention to that) but if these products are in production ready for sale, this would suggest that Honson may have received product size info and early schematics for a new Switch console ahead of release.

The image featured at the top of this article, which you can see on Honson's site here, has us particularly intrigued. We can't recall seeing this image elsewhere, and the design of the console looks a little different to previous mock-ups.

Of course, a retailer listing wouldn't usually have us convinced that a new console is definitely on the way, but it's common for new smartphone designs to leak ahead of time as cases and accessories appear online early. Accessory manufacturers need to have exact measurements early enough to produce cases in time for a product's launch, so is this what we're seeing here? While the console design featured in that image might not be 100% accurate, the case itself should certainly be the correct size.

Also, it's perhaps worth noting that back in 2013, Nintendo revealed the 2DS - a cheaper revision of the 3DS - in August. Two months later, the console was available to buy in stores. It's certainly looking possible that we could be about to see a similarly quick reveal and launch here.

We've reached out to HonSon and will update this story if we hear back.

But what do you think? Do you believe a new Switch is on the way? Do you like the idea of a Switch Mini? Fire away in the comments below.

