Tkumpathenurpahl
Veteran
As cool as that would be, I think we're way more likely to see a simple, relatively cheap 7" tablet for those purposes, at least until a few years have passed, when we'll then be looking at something like 3nm.
Something like a beefed up Kindle Fire tablet, with a greater emphasis on the screen would be the perfect way of getting a PlayStation Now compatible device into the hands of millions. If they could acquire high enough quality screens at low enough prices, they could make VR even more accessible by making a cheap, Google Daydream style headset the only barrier to entry for owners of the tablet.
Ideal PS Tablet
- A 7" screen with a 1440p resolution, capable of native 120Hz.
- Decent enough hardware to bear up under comparisons to the Switch - something like a Snapdragon 845 with 4GB of memory.
- Single USB C port, can charge and output HDMI 2.1 with a dock.
- Screen isn't covered when docked, and can function as a second screen.
- Able to be emulated by the PS4/Pro/5.
- DualShock 5 should be a cross between the Joy Cons and a split DualShock 4 and come with each tablet.
- $150-$200, knowing that it will drive constant engagement with the PlayStation ecosystem.
In the meantime, I think a Micro PS4 or PS5 would be a great solution for many. Make it a tiny box, with no power supply, no ODD, and no internal storage, and use a variety of docks to transform its form factor to whatever best suits each user. I initially though a base PS4 would be the best target performance for such a device, but considering the size of the XBoxOneX with its ODD, HDD, and power supply, I think it's feasible to shoot higher.
I think, rather than spending money on shrinking down the PS4/Pro SoC's, Sony could release a miniscule PS5, focused on 1440p and greater, to complement their streaming tablet. Something that will quickly become cheap to manufacture. Something like:
- Zen2 or 3 chiplet clocked at 2.8GHz - all 8 cores active, with SMT.
- 40CU Navi GPU with a couple of CU's disabled, and clocked for ~8TF.
- 16GB GDDR6 with 14GB available to games.
- 4GB DDR4 and dedicated GPU+CPU for UI and apps. Maybe the same as that found in the portable - engineer a cooling solution to allow for use in the home console, the portable silicone with the worse thermal profile.
Enough to run any patched PS4 game to run at 4K60, but nothing that'll set the world on fire. Handily able to render VR content. Able to hold its own in the next generation, and render at a minimum of 1440p, kind of like the Pro having a stipulation that it can only dip as low as 1080p.
Sony then have the flexibility to ship it as a normal home console, with an ODD and HDD, but users have the flexibility to pop out the "brain" and plug it into a laptop shell if they want to play on said laptop; or they could comfortably take it around with them, in that laptop shell, and use Remote Play to stream to their tablet.
And then, they can go fucking mental with the PS5 proper!
