Nintendo has filed a patent in China for a dock that represents a significant upgrade in hardware compatibility. Unlike the current Switch 2 dock, which only works with the newer console due to different power requirements, this patented dock would support both the Switch 2 and the original Switch. The innovation lies in the dock's ability to detect which console is connected and adjust its power delivery accordingly.

This development stands out because no existing first-party or third-party dock currently offers dual compatibility between the two Switch generations. The technical challenge stems from the consoles' different power negotiation protocols—the Switch 2 and original Switch handle power delivery differently, requiring a dock with intelligent power management. If implemented, such a dock would eliminate the need for users to maintain separate docking stations for each console.