Rumor: 'Q Lite' is the Next PlayStation Handheld.
The rumored handheld will require a persistent internet connection and users must have a PlayStation 5.
'Q Lite' is Sony's next attempt at making a handheld console. According to rumors, the console will derive a lot from what the PSP or PSVita were. It will not be a dedicated handheld console with games or content produced specifically for the device. Instead, it will focus more on PS Remote Play.
Right from the get-go, we can already see a major flaw with the handheld. You will require a persistent internet connection and you must have either a PlayStation 5 or 4. The rumored device is basically a glorified Backbone fused with your smartphone. At the moment you can get the benefits of remote play if you have a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and an extra DualSense or DualShock controller.
What is strange is that with a PlayStation 4, you must have your devices connected to the same network in order to play. This changed with the PlayStation 5; however, the console must be on, or in Rest Mode. So basically 'Q Lite' will force you to have a PlayStation 5 if you want to enjoy truly remote play outside of your own house.
The device will have to connect to your cellphone, or a WiFi network in order to get internet connectivity. I don't think that the device will connect to a 5G network like the PSVita did with its 3G equivalent back then. Today we have SIM-less devices like the iPhone 14, so I would not rule this one out entirely, but its unpracticality makes me doubt.
In terms of hardware, the device will feature an 8-inch screen, which is an inch bigger than the Nintendo Switch, or the Steam Deck, to give you an idea. The resolution is expected to be 1080p and 60Hz refresh rate because that is what PS Remote Play supports at the moment.
The 'Q Lite' will also feature all the great benefits that the DualSense and PSVR 2 controllers have, like haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers. It is a good decision because Sony is setting a standard across all of its devices.
At the moment, it is rumored that the 'Q Lite' is in a Quality Assurance phase (not to be confused with Quality Control), meaning that some of the features mentioned above might evolve into something else entirely. The Sony QA team is discovering, planning, designing, executing, and improving the Q Lite's features at the moment. The handheld is rumored to be released somewhere in 2024, before the also rumored PlayStation 5 Pro.
To sum it all up, the handheld console rumor does not get us too excited. If you are already enjoying PS Remote Play, then you don't necessarily need a Q Lite; otherwise, if you don't use this feature at all, then you won't miss a thing if you steer away from the handheld.
The persistent internet connectivity feature seems to limit the console's experience severely. The device does not offer any added value to your PlayStation experience at the moment. Another thing that might end up putting the last nail in the coffin is the price; if Q Lite goes around or above the $300 mark it can discourage people from buying it, considering you need to have a PlayStation 5 in order to enjoy it.
A missed opportunity if you ask me, considering we have options like the PS Backbone for the iPhone, where you can reap all the PS Remote Play benefits.
[Source: Insider Gaming]
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