Rumors are swirling that Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) might be making a grand return to the handheld gaming scene, reportedly cooking up a cross-platform design unlike anything we've seen before. According to the latest scoop from the leak channel Moore’s Law is Dead (MLiD), Sony is developing a PlayStation 6 handheld featuring a Nintendo Switch-style dock, allowing seamless transitions between portable and TV modes. 
This rumored handheld is said to launch alongside the traditional home console PlayStation 6, with its hardware design based on Sony and graphics partner AMD's latest technical documents. MLiD claims to have seen multiple documents explicitly stating the PS6 handheld can connect to a dock like the Switch, and in docked mode, its performance could even surpass the base PlayStation 5.
Spec-wise, the PS6 handheld is rumored to pack an AMD APU, featuring four Zen 6c cores and two dedicated system cores. The GPU will reportedly utilize 16 RDNA 5 CUs, clocking in at 1.2GHz in handheld mode and boosting to 1.65GHz when docked. MLiD speculates the device could retail for around $500 and hit shelves by late 2027. 
This would mark Sony's first true handheld with native game-running capabilities since the PS Vita in 2011. The PlayStation Portal, launched in 2023, is merely a streaming accessory for the PS5, fundamentally different from a traditional handheld as it can't run games independently.
In fact, as early as last year, Reuters reported that Sony had inked a deal with AMD to design and manufacture the PlayStation 6 chip, with "backward compatibility" being a crucial strategy for the next generation. AMD's prior work on the PS5 and PS5 Pro chips was a key factor in Sony's decision to continue their partnership. 
Meanwhile, Sony stated at a business meeting this summer that it would continue to "explore new and enhanced ways for players to interact with games," emphasizing that the future development of its platform is "the highest priority." While the company hasn't officially commented on handheld plans, the constant stream of leaks suggests Sony might be gearing up to re-enter the handheld arena with a dual-platform strategy in the next-gen gaming market.