PlayStation 6 handheld not expected to stay under $600, warns leaker

A $600 PlayStation 6 handheld looks off the table. Notable AMD leaker Kepler_L2, posting on NeoGAF forums, said that price point "is definitely not possible right now," pointing to how expensive LPDDR memory has gotten.

The handheld was supposed to be Sony's more affordable entry point into the next generation, sitting below a pricier PS6 console. Kepler_L2 flagged LPDDR5X, the memory standard most consumer devices rely on, as the real issue. He said LPDDR is seeing some of the steepest price increases right now because it's also in heavy demand from AI data center hardware.

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Of course, it is no surprise that gaming hardware is getting squeezed by the same memory shortage that's been driving up RAM and GPU prices all year. Moreover, that squeeze doesn't look like it's easing anytime soon.

It's not just the handheld either. Sony's PS6 bill of materials has already climbed to around $960, up roughly $200 from earlier estimates, according to the same leaker. That number keeps climbing as memory prices stay elevated, and it puts real pressure on where Sony can land pricing across its whole next-gen lineup.

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Kepler_L2 did say the current PS5 probably won't see another price hike soon, since Sony's CFO mentioned the company already locked in enough memory supply for 2026. AMD, by comparison, buys memory more or less quarter-to-quarter, which is part of why Radeon GPU prices have kept climbing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Question #1

How does LPDDR demand from AI data centers affect the PS6 handheld's component pricing?

The article says heavy AI data center demand has driven up LPDDR, especially LPDDR5X, prices, which raises component costs for the PS6 handheld and makes a $600 retail price "definitely not possible right now." Those higher memory costs have also pushed the PS6 bill of materials up (the leaker estimates the PS6 BOM near $960), putting real pressure on where Sony can set pricing for the handheld.

Question #2

What did Kepler_L2 report about the PS6 bill of materials and how does that relate to handheld pricing?

Kepler_L2 reported the PS6 bill of materials has climbed to around $960, up roughly $200 from earlier estimates. He linked that increase to elevated LPDDR memory prices driven by AI data center demand, and said those memory costs make a $600 PS6 handheld "definitely not possible right now," putting pressure on where Sony can price its next-gen lineup.

Question #3

Will the current PS5 see another price hike due to memory shortages according to the article?

According to the article, the leaker Kepler_L2 said the current PS5 probably will not see another price hike soon because Sony's CFO indicated the company has locked in enough memory supply for 2026. The article notes this is not an official Sony confirmation and pricing could still change before then.

Question #4

How might Sony offset higher PS6 handheld costs if LPDDR prices remain elevated?

If LPDDR prices stay high, Sony may offset higher PS6 handheld costs by leaning on game and PS Plus pricing to make up the difference. The site’s related coverage also suggests Sony could look at cutting PlayStation 6 memory or other specs to keep unit costs down (see Related 3 , "Sony reportedly looking at cutting PlayStation 6 memory to keep costs down").

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This is, of course, not officially confirmed by Sony, and pricing could change a lot before launch. However, if LPDDR costs stay this high, a genuinely affordable PS6 handheld gets harder to picture, and Sony may end up leaning on game and PS Plus pricing to make up the difference instead.