Upcoming PlayStation Handheld Could Surpass Xbox Series S in Power

A recent leak from a trusted source in the gaming world has sparked excitement about the next-generation PlayStation handheld device. Despite its portable nature, this new PlayStation handheld might just rival the gaming prowess of today’s home consoles.

The PlayStation 5 entered its later stages last year, leading to whispers and conjecture about the potential PlayStation 6—what it might offer and when it could hit the market. As expected, Sony has remained silent on any forthcoming hardware, but that hasn’t stopped industry insiders from speculating. A consensus among many of these insiders is that Sony is re-entering the portable gaming space with a new handheld device that could launch alongside the PS6, aiming to reclaim PlayStation’s dominance in the handheld realm.

The tech community has long debated the potential capabilities of this rumored handheld, with opinions ranging from it matching PS5-level gameplay to delivering more PS4-like performance. Stepping into this discussion, reputable hardware analyst Kepler L2 has shared some intriguing insights on the new PlayStation handheld’s chipset. It’s rumored to feature a 15W chip built on a 3nm process. While this ensures low power consumption, it suggests that the device will likely not match the raw power of the PS5.

Looking into the details shared by KeplerL2, the new handheld’s chipset, renowned for its low-voltage efficiency, is aimed at optimizing portable use. Although based on an innovative, yet-to-be-released AMD GPU architecture, it’s challenging to gauge its exact performance compared to current RDNA 2 GPUs. According to the insider, while the device will have fewer Compute Units than the PS5’s 36, it should still outperform the Xbox Series S, which boasts 20 CUs. This positions the new handheld’s capabilities between the Series S and the PS5.

When considering potential gameplay, if KeplerL2 is accurate, this handheld should be capable of running PS5 games, just not at full graphical settings. The resolution and visual quality will likely be scaled down to accommodate its size and thermal limitations. While some might question the impact of this, given that PS5 titles are crafted for 4K displays and handhelds sport smaller screens with lower resolutions, it may not be a significant drawback. The insider also hinted that the chipset for this new device might undergo final design stages a few months after the primary PS6 chip, indicating close alignment in their development.

However, a big question looms large: Can this new handheld run PS6 games? Historically, Sony’s handhelds have been treated separately from their home console counterparts, with limited sharing of games and services. But with the Steam Deck proving that gamers enjoy accessing their existing game libraries seamlessly on the go, Sony has an opportunity. Should the gaming giant succeed in making this new handheld an extension of the PS6 while allowing access to existing game collections, it could mark a major triumph in the gaming domain.