Sony may soon return to the handheld gaming market with a brand-new device that will look and work like the Nintendo Switch. Recent leaks suggest that Sony may release a hybrid PlayStation handheld in 2027, alongside the PlayStation 6. Unlike the PlayStation Portal, which only streams games from a PS5, this new handheld will be able to run PlayStation games directly on the device. That makes it very different and much more powerful.
The device will work both ways. Players will be able to carry it and play in handheld mode while traveling. They will also have the option to connect it to a TV through a dock, just like the Switch. This means it could serve as both a portable console and a home console.
Reports also suggest that this handheld will support older PlayStation games, including titles from the PS4 and PS5 libraries. That could make it immediately appealing for fans who already own a PlayStation collection.
Sony’s last true handheld was the PlayStation Vita, which came out in 2011. It was praised for its technology but could not compete with Nintendo’s DS lineup. Since then, Sony has stayed away from launching native gaming handhelds. The new device seems to be their next big step back into this space.
Leaked documents suggest that the console will be powered by a new chip from AMD, called the “Canis” APU. This chip is said to come with four Zen 6c cores made for gaming and two additional Zen 6 LP cores to take care of system tasks. It is also expected to have RDNA 5 graphics with 16 compute units, running at around 1.2GHz when used in handheld mode and up to 1.65GHz in docked mode.
The device is expected to come with a 192-bit memory bus and offer up to 48GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The device may also include an SSD slot, a microSD slot for expandable storage, haptic feedback, a touchscreen, and dual microphones.
What makes the leak even more exciting is the performance claim. When docked, the handheld is expected to give better
performance than a base PlayStation 5, especially if games use AMD’s latest FSR 4 upscaling technology. This means some games could even look and run better than they do on current-generation consoles.
Still, actual performance could vary depending on how well games are optimized for the new hardware. Non-optimized games may not show the same jump in performance.
Pricing is also important. Sources suggest the device could launch in the range of $399 to $499, which roughly equals ₹35,000 to ₹44,000 in India. That would match closely with the Nintendo Switch 2, which is currently priced at about $449.99 in the US. It is clear that Sony wants to directly compete with Nintendo in this market segment.
The release is planned for fall 2027, with production beginning earlier that year. Interestingly, the timeline also matches reports that the PS6 home console chip has already been finalized. This hints that Sony might launch the handheld and home console together.
If this plan goes forward, the new handheld will compete directly with rivals like Nintendo’s Switch 2, Valve’s upcoming Steam Deck 2, and Asus’s ROG Ally. Unlike Sony’s PlayStation Portal, which relies fully on remote play and requires a PS5 at home, this device is expected to play big PlayStation games on its own wherever players go.
Speculation about this device has been strong for a while. In 2024, Bloomberg reported that Sony was exploring a new handheld. Digital Foundry also suggested that a prototype might already exist. These new leaks back up those earlier claims and add more details, especially about the hardware inside the console.
Sony has not yet officially confirmed the device or the PS6 console, and as always with leaks, the exact features, price, or design can change before launch. Still, excitement is building as this could be Sony’s boldest handheld move in more than a decade.