Sony’s eagerly awaited handheld, codenamed Project Q, leaked photos a few hours ago, causing a stir among gamers. The photos offer a glimpse of the portable console’s inner workings and reveal a surprising detail: Project Q seems to run on the Android operating system. After months of speculation and rumors, this discovery answers a major question that arose when the console was unveiled at the recent PlayStation Showcase.
Project Q has been positioned by Sony as a specialized device primarily focused on remote play streaming from a PlayStation 5 system. According to the official description, it has a bright 8-inch LCD screen capable of delivering sharp images and seamless gameplay at up to 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second when connected to a PS5 system via Wi-Fi. This means users can enjoy their favorite PS5 games away from the TV.
The potential for Project Q to run on the Android operating system, albeit adapted, opens up fascinating possibilities for the portable console. Modders could enable popular streaming apps such as GeForce NOW, Shadow, Boosteroid, Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud, making the device a viable alternative to existing gaming systems such as the Logitech G Cloud or the Abxylute.
Project Q will not be a perfect game handheld
It’s not all rainbows and sunshine for Project Q, however, as insider Tom Henderson suggests that the handheld may have a battery life issue. Expected to last just three to four hours, it will fall short of the likes of the Logitech G Cloud, which can last over twelve hours, and the Abxylute, which can last over eight hours.
On the plus side, Project Q has a fully-fledged DualSense wireless controller with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. This will improve the experience of streaming PS5 games, but compatibility with certain PC titles will remain limited as it lacks support for special streaming features.
There is no exact release date yet, with Sony only claiming that it will be released “later this year”. It is expected to be released alongside another PlayStation item, the first wireless headphones to feature Sony’s gaming logo. The earphones are said to offer lossless audio with minimal latency, allowing players to enjoy high-quality music on both PlayStation 5 and PC.
With anticipation growing for Project Q and its potential as a powerful mobile gaming system, gamers are looking forward to more details and formal announcements from Sony. The launch of this new gaming device, along with the superior wireless headphones, promises to enhance the gaming experience for both PlayStation and PC gamers.
