Rumors suggest Sony’s next handheld could feature a Zen 6-based AMD chip, RDNA 5 graphics and 24GB of RAM, but higher component costs may push up its price.
Sony could be preparing to return to the handheld gaming market with a new device reportedly linked to the upcoming PlayStation 6, although fans may have to pay a premium for the rumored hardware.
The company has not launched a dedicated handheld gaming device since the PS Vita, whose production ended in 2019. With portable gaming experiencing renewed popularity, speculation has emerged that Sony is developing a PlayStation 6 handheld to compete in an increasingly crowded market.
According to industry reports, the PlayStation 6 family could use an AMD accelerated processing unit (APU) codenamed Canis, based on the company’s upcoming Zen 6 architecture. The rumored chip could feature six CPU cores, comprising four Zen 6c cores and two Zen 6 LP cores.
The handheld is also reportedly being designed with an RDNA 5-based integrated GPU featuring 16 compute units. It could be paired with 24GB of LPDDR5X memory connected through a 192-bit memory bus.
PlayStation 6 handheld price could exceed $600
While the rumored specifications could make Sony’s next handheld a powerful portable gaming machine, its price could become a major concern for consumers.
Industry leaker KeplerL2 has reportedly suggested that a PlayStation 6 handheld priced below $600 would be unlikely under current market conditions.
One of the factors potentially driving the price higher is the rising cost of DRAM. Memory prices have increased significantly in recent quarters, creating additional challenges for manufacturers preparing new gaming hardware.
The reported inclusion of 24GB of RAM could further increase production costs and potentially push Sony’s handheld well beyond the price range of mainstream portable gaming devices.
Handheld gaming prices continue to rise
Sony would also be entering a market where several manufacturers have already increased prices for high-end handheld gaming devices.
Companies including Lenovo, Asus and Valve have products competing in the portable gaming segment, with premium configurations increasingly approaching or exceeding the $1,000 mark.
For example, the Legion Go S configuration featuring 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of storage has reportedly reached a $1,580 manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP). Meanwhile, a Z2 Go-powered model with 16GB of memory is listed on Amazon for around $667.
The newly released GPD Win Max 3, powered by AMD’s Strix Halo platform, starts at approximately $1,750, highlighting the growing cost of high-performance handheld gaming hardware.
Sony could face wider hardware challenges
The potential price of the PlayStation 6 handheld comes as Sony and other hardware manufacturers face uncertainty surrounding memory supplies and component costs.
There is also speculation that Sony could delay its next-generation console plans until 2028 or 2029 if memory shortages worsen.
For now, Sony has not officially confirmed a PlayStation 6 handheld or its specifications. The reported Canis APU, Zen 6 CPU configuration, RDNA 5 graphics and 24GB memory remain part of the rumor cycle.
If the device does materialize, however, its pricing could be one of the biggest factors determining whether Sony can successfully re-enter the handheld gaming market.