PlayStation 6 handheld in works as Sony eyes return to portable gaming

Sony has not released a handheld gaming device since the PS Vita ended production in early 2019. As handheld gaming becomes popular again, new rumors say Sony might be working on a PlayStation 6 handheld.

Some industry sources say the PlayStation 6 could use an AMD APU called Canis, which is based on Zen 6 architecture. Reports suggest it might have six cores, with four Zen 6c and two Zen 6 LP cores.

The device is expected to include an RDNA 5-based integrated GPU with 16 compute units, along with 24 GB of LPDDR5X RAM over a 192-bit bus.

A well-known industry leaker, KeplerL2, has suggested that a PlayStation 6 handheld priced below $600 is unlikely in the current market. While this may disappoint some fans, it reflects the wider trend of rising costs in the handheld gaming sector.

With DRAM prices rising sharply in recent quarters and uncertainty ahead, the PlayStation 6 handheld could ultimately cost more than current estimates suggest.

The inclusion of 24 GB of RAM may put the device out of reach for many average gamers.

Other manufacturers such as Lenovo, Asus, and Valve have also raised prices for their handheld devices. For example, the Legion Go S with 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of storage now carries a $1,580 MSRP.

A Z2 Go-powered version with half the memory is currently listed on Amazon for $667.

READ MORE: Minecraft Dungeons II gameplay trailer breakdown: Release date, platforms, and new features

The newly released Strix Halo-powered GPD Win Max 3 handheld starts at $1,750, showing how high-end gaming handhelds are becoming harder to access for budget-conscious players.

At this time, there is speculation that Sony could delay its next-generation consoles until 2028 or 2029 if memory shortages continue to worsen.