A deeper look at Sony’s next-gen duo – what we know about the PS6 and its handheld sibling, and what it means for the future of console gaming.
New leaks give us our best look yet at what the PlayStation 6 (codename: Orion) and its suspected handheld companion (codename: Canis) might have to offer. It’s not just a power boost; this is a whole generational change that focuses on smarter design, less energy use, and more compatibility.
Let’s look at what’s inside and what might be missing.
The leak says that the PS6 will have a chiplet-based design, which is a big change from how PlayStation has been built in the past. AMD is said to have suggested that Sony use Navi 5 desktop chiplets, but it’s still not clear if Sony is going to go that way. It doesn’t look likely right now.
Being surer of itself, the PS6 will say:
- 8 CPU cores from Zen 6 or later
- 40 to 48 RDNA 5 computers that are at least 3 GHz
- A GDDR7 memory bus with 160 or 192 bits
- Power draw goal: 160 watts
- About three times as good at rasterization as the PS5
- A ray tracing boost that is much higher
Yes, backward compatibility with PS5 and PS4 has been proven. However, there are no signs of native PS3 support, which has been hard to find for a long time.
This list of specs makes it clear that Sony is making the PS6 to be cheap, efficient, and easy to expand. They want to reach tens of millions of people, not just a small group of high-end fans. By keeping the power draw lower than the PS5, which is around 200W, Sony can cut costs and make the system less complicated thermally, which are two very important factors in how quickly hardware is adopted around the world.
Canis, the PlayStation 6’s mystery handheld friend, comes along with Orion. The PlayStation Portal can only be used for streaming, but this one can be used for games on its own, as it has its own hardware and specifications.
Important factors are:
- A single 3nm die, as confirmed by new papers
- 4 Zen 6 CPU cores
- 12 to 20 RDNA 5 cells with speeds between 1.66 and 2 GHz
- LPDDR5X RAM with 128 bits (7500+)
- 0.5x rasterization speed at the PS5 level
- 15W power goal (to be really efficient)
- Ability to work with both PS5 and PS4
- Dual speakers, touch screen, and haptic feedback
- Able to grow with microSD and M.2 SSD
- USB-C with video out support, so it can be used as a hybrid system that connects to a TV
- Production is set for mid-2027
- Launch window: late 2027 to early 2028
This tablet is pretty good, but it won’t be able to replace the PS6. With power just below the PS5 and modern design, it could be Sony’s answer to the Nintendo Switch 2. However, it supports all PS5 and PS4 games and has expandable storage, which makes it more appealing to gamers.
The big question is whether or not game makers will have to make games that work on both the PS6 and the PS6 Handheld.
Sony seems to be letting the companies make the choice for now. Moore’s Law is Dead says that Sony has added a low-power mode to the PS5 to help developers start trying with the handheld’s less powerful specs. This means that Sony wants developers to support it, but they won’t have to—at least not at first.
Why is this so important? If Sony pushes developers to make the console and handheld equal, like Microsoft did with the Xbox Series S, the PS6 might not be able to reach its full potential. We already saw how this split-target design changed Xbox-only games and third-party games during the last generation.
If Sony keeps up this level of smarts and uses the handheld as a nice-looking, optional extra, it could really hit the mark.
This leak makes it look like Sony’s plans for the next generation aren’t just about power, but also about efficiency, scalability, and making smart investments. The PS6 isn’t trying to be as powerful as the most powerful PC GPUs. Instead, it’s trying to be just powerful enough to beat the PS5 in every important way while still being cheap, easy to make, and ready for the future.
With GDDR7 and Zen 6, this device will last a long time. Being aware of energy use is shown by the 160W power limit. The move toward chiplets is a sign that AMD’s future nodes will be flexible and produce better results. With backward compatibility and new features, Sony is not just making a new PlayStation box, but a long-term environment for the PlayStation.
The PS6 handheld (Canis), on the other hand, stands out as a cutting-edge companion gadget. It could become the hybrid system Sony fans have always wanted—one that doesn’t just stream, but also plays your library anywhere you go, and can be plugged into a TV for play at home.
It’s becoming clear that the launch window will be between late 2027 and early 2028.
