Sony is reportedly working on a new handheld device allowing PlayStation 5 owners to enjoy their games on the go. The device, codenamed Q Lite, is not a standalone gaming console like the PSP or the PS Vita but a Remote Play focused device that streams games from the PS5 via the internet.
According to Insider Gaming, which broke the news of the Q Lite's existence, the device will sport an 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the centre of a PS5-like controller, with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. The device will support adaptive streaming up to 1080p and 60FPS but will require constant connectivity to the internet. It will not feature any cloud-streaming capability, which some may see as a missed opportunity. However, this may be for the better, given that PlayStation's current cloud streaming service offers poor performance despite fast Internet speeds.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/PSVita2.png
Insider Gaming also claims that the Q Lite is in its QA phase and is scheduled to release before the PlayStation 5 Pro and after the Detachable Disc Drive PS5, which is also rumoured to be in development. Sony is planning to announce its "second phase of the PS5", which will include its future game slate and its new hardware offerings.
The Q Lite is Sony's latest attempt to enter the handheld gaming market, which Nintendo has dominated for decades. Sony's previous handheld consoles, the PSP and the PS Vita, had mixed success. They could have matched Nintendo's sales and popularity. The PSP, launched in 2004, was Sony's first handheld console and a direct competitor to Nintendo's DS.
The PSP offered impressive graphics, multimedia features, and an extensive library of games from various genres and franchises. The PSP sold over 80 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling handheld consoles ever.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/PSVita3.png
The PS Vita, launched in 2011, was Sony's successor to the PSP and a competitor to Nintendo's 3DS. The PS Vita boasted a high-resolution OLED touchscreen, dual analogue sticks, a rear touchpad, motion sensors, cameras, and online connectivity. The PS Vita also supported Remote Play with the PS4, allowing users to stream games from their console to their handheld device.
However, despite its technical prowess and positive reviews, the PS Vita needed help finding a large audience. It needed more support from both Sony and third-party developers. The PS Vita sold only around 16 million units worldwide, making it one of Sony's worst-selling consoles. As a result, Sony eventually discontinued the production of the PS Vita in 2019 and stopped releasing new games for it.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/NintendoSwitchOLED1.png
The Q Lite is a different approach from Sony's previous handhelds, as it is not meant to be a standalone gaming device but rather an accessory for the PS5. The Q Lite may appeal to PS5 fans who want to play games anywhere without sacrificing quality or performance. However, it may also face challenges such as its dependency on an internet connection, potentially high cost, and competition with Nintendo's Switch and Switch Lite.
Nintendo's Switch is currently the undisputed leader of the handheld gaming market, having sold over 92 million units worldwide since its launch in 2017.
Nintendo also released a cheaper and smaller version of the Switch called the Switch Lite in 2019. The Switch Lite is designed exclusively for handheld play and does not support TV mode or detachable controllers. The Switch Lite has sold over 16 million units worldwide so far.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/NintendoSwitchLight1.png
The Q Lite will have to compete with both versions of the Switch for handheld gamers' attention and wallets. The Q Lite may have an advantage over the Switch regarding graphics quality and performance thanks to Remote Play with the PS5. However, it may also have disadvantages, such as requiring a PS5 console and an internet connection to work correctly.
It remains to be seen how Sony will market and price the Q Lite and how it will fit into its overall PlayStation strategy.
[Kamran Shamsi](https://twitter.com/Kamrann64) is a gaming and technology journalist for Stock Checker. Images used in this article belong to PlayStation and Nintendo.
According to Insider Gaming, which broke the news of the Q Lite's existence, the device will sport an 8-inch LCD touchscreen in the centre of a PS5-like controller, with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. The device will support adaptive streaming up to 1080p and 60FPS but will require constant connectivity to the internet. It will not feature any cloud-streaming capability, which some may see as a missed opportunity. However, this may be for the better, given that PlayStation's current cloud streaming service offers poor performance despite fast Internet speeds.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/PSVita2.png
Insider Gaming also claims that the Q Lite is in its QA phase and is scheduled to release before the PlayStation 5 Pro and after the Detachable Disc Drive PS5, which is also rumoured to be in development. Sony is planning to announce its "second phase of the PS5", which will include its future game slate and its new hardware offerings.
The Q Lite is Sony's latest attempt to enter the handheld gaming market, which Nintendo has dominated for decades. Sony's previous handheld consoles, the PSP and the PS Vita, had mixed success. They could have matched Nintendo's sales and popularity. The PSP, launched in 2004, was Sony's first handheld console and a direct competitor to Nintendo's DS.
The PSP offered impressive graphics, multimedia features, and an extensive library of games from various genres and franchises. The PSP sold over 80 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling handheld consoles ever.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/PSVita3.png
The PS Vita, launched in 2011, was Sony's successor to the PSP and a competitor to Nintendo's 3DS. The PS Vita boasted a high-resolution OLED touchscreen, dual analogue sticks, a rear touchpad, motion sensors, cameras, and online connectivity. The PS Vita also supported Remote Play with the PS4, allowing users to stream games from their console to their handheld device.
However, despite its technical prowess and positive reviews, the PS Vita needed help finding a large audience. It needed more support from both Sony and third-party developers. The PS Vita sold only around 16 million units worldwide, making it one of Sony's worst-selling consoles. As a result, Sony eventually discontinued the production of the PS Vita in 2019 and stopped releasing new games for it.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/NintendoSwitchOLED1.png
The Q Lite is a different approach from Sony's previous handhelds, as it is not meant to be a standalone gaming device but rather an accessory for the PS5. The Q Lite may appeal to PS5 fans who want to play games anywhere without sacrificing quality or performance. However, it may also face challenges such as its dependency on an internet connection, potentially high cost, and competition with Nintendo's Switch and Switch Lite.
Nintendo's Switch is currently the undisputed leader of the handheld gaming market, having sold over 92 million units worldwide since its launch in 2017.
Nintendo also released a cheaper and smaller version of the Switch called the Switch Lite in 2019. The Switch Lite is designed exclusively for handheld play and does not support TV mode or detachable controllers. The Switch Lite has sold over 16 million units worldwide so far.
https://stock-checker.com/uploads/NintendoSwitchLight1.png
The Q Lite will have to compete with both versions of the Switch for handheld gamers' attention and wallets. The Q Lite may have an advantage over the Switch regarding graphics quality and performance thanks to Remote Play with the PS5. However, it may also have disadvantages, such as requiring a PS5 console and an internet connection to work correctly.
It remains to be seen how Sony will market and price the Q Lite and how it will fit into its overall PlayStation strategy.
[Kamran Shamsi](https://twitter.com/Kamrann64) is a gaming and technology journalist for Stock Checker. Images used in this article belong to PlayStation and Nintendo.