Sony Might Be Plotting a Dockable PS6 Handheld — and It Could Shake Up the Industry
Rumors are piling up, and they’re pointing toward something big: Sony could be gearing up to launch a dockable PlayStation 6 handheld. If true, this would mark Sony’s boldest return to portable gaming since the PSP and PS Vita — and this time, the company might be aiming squarely at Nintendo’s hybrid throne.
The latest whispers come from YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead, who claims Sony’s new handheld — codenamed Canis — would be no mere accessory. Unlike the PlayStation Portal, this machine is rumored to carry real horsepower under the hood. The leaks describe a device that downshifts to 1.20 GHz in handheld mode and ramps up to 1.65 GHz when docked, complete with a touchscreen, M.2 expansion slot, haptic feedback, and even dual microphones. In other words, Sony’s building a handheld that acts like a proper console, not just a streaming screen.
The supposed specs sound almost too good to be true. Reports say it could run on a six-core AMD chip paired with as much as 48 GB of LPDDR5X memory, though more realistic estimates suggest half that. A 16-CU RDNA 5 GPU is also in the mix, promising ray-tracing power rivaling the PS5 Pro. Some insiders even hint at an energy-efficient mode designed to fit Sony’s environmental initiatives.
Now here’s where things get dicey: the projected price is in the $399–$499 range, with a release window in late 2027. That would put it nose-to-nose with the Switch 2. But industry watchers aren’t convinced Sony can pull off such cutting-edge performance at that price point. PC Gamer has already flagged the rumored specs as overly ambitious, while fans on Reddit are split between calling the leaks “fantasy specs” and believing that Sony is deep in testing phases with new hardware.
The strategy may not be all brute force. Some reports suggest the handheld could balance local gaming with cloud play: PS4-level titles running directly on the hardware, while PS5 and PS6 games stream via Wi-Fi 6E or 7. If that’s the case, Sony may be chasing a sweet spot — a system that feels powerful without killing battery life or your wallet.Rumors are piling up, and they’re pointing toward something big: Sony could be gearing up to launch a dockable PlayStation 6 handheld. If true, this would mark Sony’s boldest return to portable gaming since the PSP and PS Vita — and this time, the company might be aiming squarely at Nintendo’s hybrid throne.
The latest whispers come from YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead, who claims Sony’s new handheld — codenamed Canis — would be no mere accessory. Unlike the PlayStation Portal, this machine is rumored to carry real horsepower under the hood. The leaks describe a device that downshifts to 1.20 GHz in handheld mode and ramps up to 1.65 GHz when docked, complete with a touchscreen, M.2 expansion slot, haptic feedback, and even dual microphones. In other words, Sony’s building a handheld that acts like a proper console, not just a streaming screen.
The supposed specs sound almost too good to be true. Reports say it could run on a six-core AMD chip paired with as much as 48 GB of LPDDR5X memory, though more realistic estimates suggest half that. A 16-CU RDNA 5 GPU is also in the mix, promising ray-tracing power rivaling the PS5 Pro. Some insiders even hint at an energy-efficient mode designed to fit Sony’s environmental initiatives.
Now here’s where things get dicey: the projected price is in the $399–$499 range, with a release window in late 2027. That would put it nose-to-nose with the Switch 2. But industry watchers aren’t convinced Sony can pull off such cutting-edge performance at that price point. PC Gamer has already flagged the rumored specs as overly ambitious, while fans on Reddit are split between calling the leaks “fantasy specs” and believing that Sony is deep in testing phases with new hardware.
The strategy may not be all brute force. Some reports suggest the handheld could balance local gaming with cloud play: PS4-level titles running directly on the hardware, while PS5 and PS6 games stream via Wi-Fi 6E or 7. If that’s the case, Sony may be chasing a sweet spot — a system that feels powerful without killing battery life or your wallet.
What’s undeniable is the timing. Nintendo’s Switch successor is looming. Valve’s Steam Deck continues to dominate the portable PC crowd. And handheld gaming is having a full-on renaissance. For Sony, jumping back into the fight with a dockable powerhouse could change the conversation.
Whether this rumored device becomes reality or just stays wishful thinking, it’s clear Sony is under pressure to innovate. If the company really is building a handheld that blends console-level performance with hybrid flexibility, the PS6 era might not just live in your living room — it could be in your backpack too.