Sony’s next-gen gambit? a true Portable PS6

A new wave of leaks and industry analysis suggests Sony is planning its most radical console strategy in decades: launching a powerful, fully portable PlayStation 6 device alongside a traditional home console as early as 2028, with an aggressive target price of $400-$500.

The Return of a Portable PlayStation

Codenamed “Project Canis,” the device represents Sony’s definitive return to the handheld market it abandoned after the PlayStation Vita. Unlike the streaming-only PlayStation Portal, “Canis” is rumored to be a native, standalone console capable of playing games directly on its hardware. Insiders report it will launch concurrently with the codenamed “Orion” PlayStation 6 home console, marking a fundamental shift from Sony’s traditional one-box-per-generation approach.

“The industry has changed. People don’t want to be tied to their living room TV anymore,” notes industry commentator Nick Papanikolopoulos. “Sony seems to realize that to keep people in their ecosystem, they need a device that goes where the player goes.”

Leaked Specs Promise Console Power in Your Pocket

As per GizChina, the reported specifications aim for a flagship portable experience. The device is said to feature a custom AMD APU with Zen 6 CPU cores and a GPU based on the next-generation RDNA 5 architecture, targeting 1080p native gameplay. With rumors of 16-24GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the goal is performance surpassing current PC handhelds like the Steam Deck, potentially matching a base PS5 when docked to a TV via USB-C.

A key feature is a hybrid “Docked Mode,” where the device would overclock its chip when connected to a display, offering a boosted experience for home play—a clear answer to the Nintendo Switch’s formula.

The “Trojan Horse” Preparing a Massive Library

Perhaps the most compelling evidence isn’t a hardware leak, but a software initiative. Developers report Sony is aggressively pushing a new “Power Saver” mode, with updates patched into every version of the PS5 development kit. Analysts like Moore’s Law Is Dead suggest this is a covert effort to optimize the existing PS4/PS5 library for portable power efficiency, ensuring a vast catalog of “portable-ready” games is available at launch.

“This gives Sony two products: a high-end box for the hardcore fans and a portable hybrid for everyone else,” Papanikolopoulos observes.

A Strategic Price Point to Challenge the Market

If accurate, the projected $400-$500 price range could be a market disruptor. It undercuts expectations for a premium device and positions Sony competitively against the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 and high-end PC handhelds. “The $400-$500 estimate represents a sweet spot between profitability and market competitiveness,” writes Annabelle Ink of Red94, noting that immediate backwards compatibility with the vast PS4/PS5 library provides unparalleled day-one value.

Addressing the “Holdback” Concern and Timeline
A major question is whether a portable spec will constrain next-generation PS6 game design. Sony’s alleged counter is advanced AI upscaling, specifically a second-generation PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR 2). This tech could allow developers to build a single game that scales visually across devices, with the handheld version using AI to enhance lower-resolution output.

Current leaks point to mass production beginning in mid-2027 for a Fall 2027 to 2028 launch window. While supply chain issues for components like GDDR7 memory could cause delays, the timeline suggests a formal reveal could come in 2026 or early 2027.

By merging a high-performance portable with its next-generation ecosystem, Sony is not just re-entering the handheld fray, it is attempting to redefine what a PlayStation generation can be.