In their latest podcast, the team at Digital Foundry examined the rumored specifications of Sony’s upcoming PlayStation handheld, often referred to as the “PS6 handheld,” and compared its expected performance to that of the newly launched Strix Halo-based handheld devices. The discussion, prompted by a supporter’s question, revolved around whether the custom silicon and optimization of Sony’s future portable system could outperform the raw hardware power of AMD’s Strix Halo chips used in devices such as the GPD Win 5.
The question raised the idea that the PlayStation handheld, with its tighter integration of hardware and software, might deliver better visual results than PC-based handhelds, even if the latter boast higher raw specifications. The supporter noted excitement about a higher-wattage, next-generation device using a newer process node, wondering whether such a design could rival or surpass the Strix Halo in real-world performance.
Oliver from Digital Foundry agreed that optimized hardware paired with technologies such as PlayStation’s next-generation PSSR could produce more consistent results than general-purpose PC hardware. He explained that while Strix Halo handhelds run traditional PC ports through platforms like DirectX or Proton, the PlayStation device would benefit from extensive low-level optimization, a hallmark of console development.
However, the team was cautious in drawing direct comparisons, emphasizing that much about the rumored PlayStation handheld remains uncertain. Current speculation suggests the device could use an RDNA 5-based GPU built on a 3nm process, offering efficiency gains but likely falling short of Strix Halo’s upper thermal and power limits. At best, Digital Foundry suggested, the PS6 handheld might match the graphical output of a 25 to 30-watt Strix Halo configuration, though that remains speculative given the lack of concrete information about its CPU and GPU clocks.
On the CPU front, reports indicate that the PlayStation handheld could feature a mix of Zen 6C cores, potentially four primary cores supplemented by two low-power ones for background processes. By contrast, the Strix Halo architecture is built around eight Zen 5 cores with robust memory interfaces, making it a more traditional high-performance configuration. This difference could impact how both systems handle demanding modern titles, especially at sustained power limits.
The discussion also touched on how optimization can dramatically affect performance. As seen with Nintendo Switch 2, which achieves impressive results in games like Cyberpunk 2077 due to precise hardware targeting, the same principle could benefit Sony’s new handheld. Developers optimizing directly for the PS6 handheld could extract far greater visual quality than what would typically be possible on equivalent PC-class hardware.
Even so, the sheer computational strength of the Strix Halo remains formidable. Digital Foundry noted that at around 50 watts, it can deliver visuals on par with PlayStation 5-quality settings, albeit at lower resolutions or with aggressive upscaling. The handheld essentially functions as a portable equivalent of the PS5, a significant benchmark for any competing device.
John from Digital Foundry also shared his perspective on what Sony should aim for with the rumored handheld. He expressed hope that it would support native playback of PS5 titles rather than limiting itself to streaming or backward-compatible PS4 games. “For this to really take off, it needs to be that,” he said, emphasizing that Sony should strive for a seamless library experience across devices. While he admitted that running PS4 games natively at 1080p would still be impressive, the long-term success of the handheld may depend on its ability to handle current-generation software directly.
Currently, Sony has not confirmed the existence of a PS6 handheld, and all information about it is purely speculative. However, discussions like those from Digital Foundry highlight the increasing anticipation for next-generation portable gaming devices and how they could change the balance between mobility and power in the future.
