Sony is said to be preparing to make its next bold step with its next-generation PlayStation 6 (PS6) lineup. Leaks and insider rumblings have recently suggested that the next gen of PlayStation will not only feature a standard home console — but a portable, handheld version as well. With release dates for the PS6 tentatively set for late 2027 or early 2028, gamers could soon have two ways of experiencing the PS6 era.
Sony’s PS6 plan for the next-generation console is said to mirror a “two-console” strategy: one flagship home console and a lighter, portable, travel-optimized model. The home console will be the full-featured next-gen PS experience – powerful, living-room based, and a logical technology evolution of the PS5.
In the meantime, the portable PS6 is designed to deliver a regular PlayStation gaming experience into your palms. But while the PlayStation Portal needs a PS5 for it to stream games, the new portable is reported to play natively – no Wi-Fi, no main console required. It can be thought of as Sony’s response to Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, designed to function independently.
Although Sony hasn’t said anything official, several sources, including reliable leaks, are suggesting a late 2027 or early 2028 release for the primary PS6 console.
Industry insider KeplerL2 indicated the console’s finalization of its design took place in 2025, providing Sony with sufficient runway for a complete release within the timeline. Dexerto, as well as GAMINGbible, restated such projections within their April 2025 headlines.
For the handheld, though, it’s supposed to show up after the regular console — maybe a few months down the road, or even a year. There’s speculation that it will be a mid-generation unit, a secondary product, created for the purpose of refreshing the ecosystem rather than stealing from the main console.
Technologically, the regular PS6 is said to bring its A-game. It is said to be powered by a bespoke AMD chipset with the Zen 6 CPU architecture and RDNA 5 GPU — positioning it well above the PS5. Enthusiasts can anticipate 4K as a minimum, as well as potentially even 8K capabilities as well.
The portable version, however, will be modest, intentionally so. It will likely stand somewhere between the PS5 and Xbox Series S in terms of power. Leaks indicate that it will provide a level of performance akin to that of the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, so it can play current games, though not necessarily at the same resolutions or frame rates.
Notably, the handheld will be powered by a low-power system-on-a-chip (SoC), designed for long-battery life as well as cooler operation — with around 28–32 compute units and optimized memory bandwidth.
Sony is on a rollercoaster with handhelds. The PSP was a home run back in the 2000s, taking console-grade games portable. Then there was the PS Vita, loved by gamers, but problematic for support, never quite living up to its promise. And now, of course, is the PlayStation Portal of 2023 — a companion product, not so much a dedicated console.
But the portable PS6. This is looking like Sony pulling out all the stops. A legitimate handheld console, able to play full-fledged games by itself, is a full return to the portable front lines.
Sony’s entry couldn’t have come at a better time. Handheld gaming is experiencing a massive comeback, with the Nintendo Switch still reigning supreme and its next iteration said to be on the horizon. And then there’s the PC-focused competition: Valve’s Steam Deck, ASUS’ ROG Ally, and Lenovo’s Legion Go have all made their mark on this niche.
Far from joining the party, with the PS6 handheld, Sony is intent on hosting it. Unlike its PC-based competitors, a portable PlayStation would ship with a library of built-in exclusive games, PSN access, and a fanbase that’s already committed to the ecosystem.
GAMINGbible made a valid point, though — if the portable is not as powerful as a PS5, can it potentially play next-gen games? If optimized appropriately, sure — but developers will need to scale experiences across the two consoles differently.