Apple wouldn't want to miss out on the gains that would come from entering the thriving portable console segment: it would be working on a rival to Switch
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced a lot of people to stay home for long periods, especially in the 2020s. People who had some time to devote to hobbies such as gaming, and that once returned to the (almost) regular everyday life has obviously felt the need to have a portable console to not miss the small breaks-games.
Probably this is the reading that allows to explain the golden age of the sector of portable gaming consoles, a segment in which Apple wants to enter as soon as possible not to lose the gains that could result. Demand is strong: the first stocks of the recent Nintendo Switch Oled were sold out in a few hours, which has perhaps made even more evident the interest in this kind of device. At the banquet it seems that Apple also wants to participate with its own portable game console that, however, is made with an approach "to Apple", then with materials and construction of the first level and that is characterized by an extremely enjoyable user experience.
The project with Apple starts from afar
According to the latest rumors, Apple would then work on a portable console. A project that involves the creation of a "hybrid gaming console" of course of high technical and performance level that can challenge Nintendo Switch. In addition, it seems that Apple has almost finished the development of games capable of standing up to titles such as Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.
From some relatively recent rumors from usually reliable informants it seemed that the project was supposed to take off in 2020 or 2021, but nothing ever came of it. The issue is that the nothingness could have been determined by the Covid-19 pandemic, so now, with the situation relatively under control, Apple could resurrect the project of a portable console in the wake of Nintendo Switch.
According to the latest rumors, Apple's console will not compete with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S: it will be a hybrid, that is a portable console and at the same time to be used comfortably on the couch at home, and that's why it will take away market share from Nintendo Switch and not from Sony and Microsoft products.
In addition, it is thought that thanks to the use of new Apple Silicon chips, which in recent months have shown amazing performance, the hybrid console of Apple will have very high performance but at the same time will be aimed at a more generalist audience. The market is there: the Switch has been sold in 90 million units, so Apple thinks it has enough room to seduce the public that looks with interest to Nintendo's product.
How much will Apple's handheld console cost?
Apple's products are never cheap, and neither will the handheld console be. There's still no definite indiscretion on the subject of pricing, but given the premium nature of the product, it wouldn't be too surprising if it came in at figures over €500.