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

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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").

Prominent AMD leaker says a $600 PS6 handheld isn't possible right now, blaming LPDDR memory prices that have been squeezed by AI data center demand.

VIEW GALLERY - 3

Hassam Nasir

Tech Reporter

Published Aug 21, 2026 2:50 PM CDT

1 minute & 15 seconds read time

TL;DR: An AMD leaker says a $600 PS6 handheld is unlikely due to rising LPDDR5X memory costs driven by AI data center demand; Sony's PS6 bill of materials is reportedly around $960 and rising, pressuring next-gen pricing and possibly shifting revenue emphasis to games and PS Plus.

Voice: Hassam NasirSpeed

0:00 / 2:16

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.

PlayStation 6 handheld not expected to stay under $600, warns leaker 3

VIEW GALLERY - 3 IMAGES

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.

Read more: DRAM prices surged by up to 89% in Q2 2026, destroying the consumer segment
Read more: PlayStation 6 BOM cost now close to $1,000, raising concerns about the console's launch price
Read more: PlayStation 6 will reportedly feature 30GB of high-speed GDDR7 memory

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.

PlayStation 6 handheld not expected to stay under $600, warns leaker 2

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

TweakBot answers common questions about this news using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. All answers are generated from TweakTown content and not outside sources. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below related to this content.

Question #1

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

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.

Answered

Question #3

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

Question #4

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

Have a question about this content not listed here? Ask below and TweakBot will answer it.

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.