Sony may be preparing a comeback in handheld gaming with Canis, a rumored device set to launch alongside the PS6. Unlike the cloud-only PlayStation Portal, the new handheld is expected to run games natively and dock to an external display, putting it in direct competition with Nintendo’s Switch 2.
A dockable hybrid system for PlayStation fans
According to leaks, the handheld won’t rely on streaming. Instead, it will function like a hybrid console, able to run on its own or connect to a dock through USB-C. That design could give Sony its first real Switch-style experience.
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Rumored specs and performance of the rumored device, Canis
Reports point to a 10-core CPU with 16 compute units of RDNA 5 at 1.20GHz, boosting to 1.65GHz when docked. That would provide roughly half the power of a PS5, still ahead of Microsoft’s upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X.
Highlights include:
- RDNA 5 compute units with docked performance boost
- Backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 games
- Dock support via USB-C
- Native handheld play instead of cloud streaming
Pricing strategy and release window
Insiders suggest Sony aims to price the handheld below Microsoft’s $1,000 ROG Ally X, positioning it closer to the Switch 2’s $449.99. Estimates point to $499.99 for the PS6 itself, with the handheld likely to cost less.
It’s expected to launch alongside the PS6 by 2027 at the earliest, marking Sony’s first native handheld since the PS Vita in 2011.
Why this Canis handheld could matter
If the rumors prove accurate, Sony’s device would represent its most serious attempt to re-enter the handheld market in more than a decade. With native gameplay, backward compatibility, and dockable flexibility, it could finally challenge Nintendo in a category PlayStation once abandoned.
For fans, Canis is more than just a codename; it’s a possible glimpse of a handheld future for PlayStation.
