Sony’s Handheld Takes Shape as New RDNA 5 Details and Odd Controller Patent Emerge

Sony's hopes for handheld devices are beginning to look a lot less like guesswork. Several reports claim that they have contacts at AMD who say that the company's next-generation handheld is no longer just an experiment, but is becoming an important part of PlayStation's future hardware plan. Based on what we know so far, Sony may have bigger plans for their future than just making a personal companion device.

The most interesting thing is that Sony is thinking of its next-generation consoles as a single group of hardware. Reports say that the core chip design for both the home console and the handheld will be the same. The handheld form will have less power, helping save battery life. By using this method, Sony would be able to adjust performance based on the device, rather than having to build two separate systems.

The goal is to keep frame rates steady at lower levels without draining the battery, a problem that has long plagued high-performance handhelds. This would let modern PlayStation games run directly on a portable system without requiring major changes. 

The design that Sony is likely to use is another big secret. It is said that the handheld will use AMD's new RDNA5 graphics design, which is a big step up from the RDNA2 technology that powers the PlayStation 5. AMD's naming conventions have caused a lot of confusion, but the main point is clear: RDNA5 is a new level of speed and efficiency.

RDNA5 could give you a PS5-level gaming experience.

There are already some RDNA5 chips on the market, mostly in very expensive pocket PCs like the GPD Win 5. Reports say that these devices can sometimes do better than a PS5, achieving frame rates well above 100 FPS in difficult games like God of War Ragnarök. The price of those chips, on the other hand, is too high for a mass-market Sony mobile.

A lot of the time, Sony's version would be a better, more reasonable option. It won't be widely available until around the middle of 2027 for desktop-class RDNA5 GPUs. This aligns with long-running reports about Sony's next hardware cycle. The PlayStation 6 was said to come out in late 2027, but new rumors say it may have been pushed back a little.

That time actually makes the case for a handheld launch first stronger. A portable PlayStation could be used as a link between the PS5 and PS6, running all new PS5 games while slowly getting ready to work with PS6 games through future software updates. Sony wouldn't have to rush out exclusive next-gen games, which would keep players who think the PS5 still has a lot of life left from being upset.

This plan is similar to what Sony did in the past. It's not unusual for RDNA5-based devices to come out before the rest of the market; the PS5 came out before many RDNA2 GPUs were widely available on PC. For people who like Sony's past handhelds, this makes the idea of a real PlayStation portable seem more likely than ever.

But Sony hasn't given up on its latest handheld product either. The PlayStation Portal, which lets you play games from afar, is said to be getting a big update this year. One of the biggest complaints about the current model will be fixed with an OLED screen. Sony is now sure that the Portal has found a real audience because sales have been better than expected.

OLED is coming to PlayStation Portal, but Sony is protecting its turf.

The price of the updated Portal probably won't go up by a lot. It's still basically an Android tablet with PlayStation buttons attached to it, with some pretty basic parts. A better screen and faster Wi-Fi could make the experience much better without having a huge effect on the cost of making the product.

This move toward multiple hardware lanes is a direct answer to more competition. Valve's next Steam Machine should have speed on par with the PS5 and give users access to a library of games that is much bigger and cheaper. At the same time, Xbox's growing focus on PC changes the competitive environment even more. 

Sony's answer is clear: focus more on the home console and add more products to its community through handhelds. However, not everyone is excited about all of Sony's new hardware plans. A new PlayStation invention has made people wonder what the company's real goals are. 

The patent describes a DualSense-style controller with a touchscreen on the front face that lets players move and resize digital buttons as they please. Triggers, bumpers, and analog sticks would still be real, but most buttons would be controlled by touch and mechanical feedback. In theory, this allows for flexibility. A lot of users think it's a step backwards in real life.

A touch-screen video game controller no one asked for.

Traditional games have had trouble with touchscreen controls for a long time, especially action games that need exact input. Even when the buttons are big and easy to see, mobile versions of platform games often have cluttered screens and controls that are hard to use.

Putting digital buttons on your face instead of real ones could make fast-paced games more frustrating, not less. Cost is another thing to think about. The DualSense controller is already pricey because it has a lot of tech features. Adding a full touchscreen would make it even more expensive.

Some fans say that Sony would be better off improving useful features like battery life instead of trying out new, unusual designs. Still, this idea might never reach customers, as is the case with many patents. Companies often file patents to protect their ideas so that rivals will have to pay licensing fees if they try to use similar ones.

Still, the difference between Sony’s handheld device and what they are trying to do with it is very clear.

After some thought, Sony is going in the right direction with its reported handheld plan. On the other hand, it's wasting time researching controller ideas that don't seem to be related to what players want.

The idea of a handheld device is still the most exciting idea for now. In the years before the PS6, Sony could change what a PlayStation device looks like by making an RDNA5-powered portable that works with devices from different versions.