Sony’s Low-Energy PS5 Mode Hints at a Handheld Revolution
Sony is quietly laying the groundwork for what could be the next big step in PlayStation’s evolution-a handheld console. Recent reports reveal that the PlayStation 5 SDK will soon include a brand-new ‘low energy mode,’ which seems designed not just for power savings but for emulating performance on a portable system.
The news comes from well-known leaker Moore’s Law is Dead, who claims that developers are being briefed on this mode. The mode drastically reduces resource consumption: down to 8 threads, GPU core clocks slashed by up to 20%, memory bandwidth halved, and VR features like PSSR and headset support removed entirely. In short, it mimics the type of limitations you’d expect on a compact, battery-driven device.
Despite cutting power by up to 30%, the mode retains about 90% of the PS5’s game-running capability, ensuring backward compatibility. Curiously, developers are being nudged to ensure full VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support, possibly to maintain smooth visuals under reduced performance.
While it might seem like just another power-saving option, insiders suggest this is actually Sony’s stealthy first move towards handheld integration. AMD leaker Kepler L2 even confirmed this matches the profile of a handheld APU where memory bandwidth is the bottleneck-exactly what this mode tackles.
History backs up this theory. The ‘Trinity Mode’ for PS5 Pro appeared a year before that hardware’s release. Following that pattern, the new low-energy mode could be a preview of a PlayStation handheld that’s nearing production.
What could this handheld look like? Probably not one with a disc drive-modern handhelds, from the Steam Deck to the Switch, stick with digital content for portability. But with advances like 3nm processing and AI upscaling tech (PSSR), it’s plausible that PS5 games could run at 1080p or 1440p on a device that draws under 30 watts. AMD’s Strix Point chips already show it’s achievable.
Sony may be trying to play catch-up or leap ahead, depending on your perspective. But one thing’s for sure-the next PlayStation might fit in your hands, not your TV stand.