This article was updated by Andrea Trama on April 8, 2026, with a brief history of PlayStation handheld consoles. It was first published on April 2.
A clear leak about the next generation PlayStation The hardware suggests that the PS6 will include a powerful handheld model. The tease comes as PlayStation's latest console, the PS5, approaches its sixth year of availability.
The PS5 has been a massive success since its launch in November 2020. The console, which was released in both digital-only and disc-capable formats, has been the default hardware of this generation, with a library of software that is constantly expanding in both scale and quality. As of March 2026, despite Nintendo's own success in the hardware market, the PlayStation 5 is once again edging out its toughest competition, managing to outsell the recently released Nintendo Switch 2. Although recent reports suggest that the major powers of the games industry are looking ahead to a new console generation, the current consoles available in the market do not seem to be running out of steam.
If the PlayStation 6 leaks are true, the PS5 Pro may pale in comparison
Rumors and leaks reportedly give insight into the PlayStation 6's power and pricing, contrasting with what fans have seen with the PS5 Pro.
Insider hints at the power of the PlayStation 6 handheld model
A notable insider has suggested that the handheld version of the PlayStation 6 will play host to some impressive specs. In a post on gaming forum NeoGAF, major industry insider Kepler L2 said the long-rumored handheld model of the PlayStation 6 will outperform the Xbox Series S, a portable iteration of Sony's next-generation hardware that will host a GPU that is “slightly ahead” of Microsoft's home console, according to “Sepamas” terms. Ray Tracing and Path Tracing. KeplerL2 also states that the handheld's updated version of PSSR, which allows the PlayStation hardware to increase its graphical performance, will be better than Nvidia's current market-leading DLSS 4.5 technology. This represents a significant jump from the Nintendo Switch 2, which currently uses its own version of DLSS 2.
History of PS Handhelds:
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The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released outside of Japan in March 2005, and supports games, movies, and music via UMD (Universal Media Disc); It is estimated to have sold around 80 million units during its lifetime. It was closed in 2014.
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The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) was released outside of Japan in February 2012, featuring a 5-inch display, dual analog sticks, used game cards, and supported digital downloads through the PlayStation Store. It was discontinued in 2019, and is estimated to have sold fewer units than the PSP.
Rumors about the PlayStation 6 have been circulating for quite some time, with many suggesting that Sony will re-enter the portable console market with the next iteration of the hardware. Unlike Sony's PlayStation Portal, which allows PlayStation 5 owners to use the console's remote play features or stream their library of games via the cloud, the portable PS6 is rumored to be pitched as a traditional handheld experience, boasting the same library of titles as its home console counterpart. It will be Sony's first true handheld device since the PlayStation Vita, which was released in Japan in 2011 and the rest of the world in 2012. Although the Vita was well received by enthusiasts, developing a cult following among PlayStation fans, the console's poor sales prompted Sony to limit support for the handheld, officially discontinuing the portable device in 2019.
With Sony significantly increasing the price of all PS5 models due to the current climate of console manufacturing costs, the more affordable portable PS6 seems like a perfect deal for fans who want to upgrade to the next generation of hardware as soon as possible. The technology is rapidly becoming more expensive, but it has also become extremely powerful. While the portable version of the home console is sure to compromise some level of performance, these rumors suggest that the drop-off in quality is probably less significant than before. Many fans would likely be willing to compromise on performance or graphical fidelity if it meant they were able to afford the next console generation at a lower cost.
Despite the possibility that the handheld PlayStation 6 will serve as a more cost-effective version of Sony's next console generation, the exact price is yet to be determined. Many analysts predict that the PS6 could cost $1,000 or more, and although it will likely be cheaper, the portable iteration of the system could still have a substantial price tag attached. If the rumored hardware is as powerful as insiders predict, it will likely be expensive as well. Fans should be prepared to pay a premium price if they want to jump into the next generation of PlayStation hardware,
