A new portable gaming device for the PlayStation 5 named the PlayStation Portal has been developed by Sony Entertainment Interactive. Launching on November 15, 2023, it was first announced on May 23, 2023.
The primary hardware components of the PlayStation Portal are an 8-inch HD LCD screen and every button and feature present on a DualSense controller. With Remote Play, it can stream content from a PlayStation 5 over a Wi-Fi network.
The highest refresh rate of the laminated screen is 60Hz, with a resolution of 1080p. It boasts top-firing stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone socket, support for Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and a 4,370mAh nonremovable battery that charges by USB-C. It can be connected to Sony’s new PlayStation Link-enabled headphones for lossless audio. The PlayStation Portal will be available for $200.
PlayStation Portal reviews
PlayStation Portal is neither precisely a competitor to the Switch or Steam Deck nor a PS Vita replacement. It is rather an expansion of the current PlayStation 5. Players can use this device for Remote Play to play PlayStation games that have been downloaded to their PS5 system.
Unlike Nvidia’s Geforce Now or Sony’s PlayStation Plus Premium membership, it lacks cloud streaming capabilities and is unable to run any software locally, including YouTube and Netflix.
According to players who have used it, it resembles a longer, bulkier Switch or a DualSense controller that has been cut in half and connected to a huge smartphone. For flawless touchpad functionality in-game, players will also need to develop some muscle memory.
The main benefit is that all of the features found in the DualSense standard are still present in these controllers. Here, haptic feedback and adaptive triggers continue to function exactly as they always do. There is just one major drawback to the integrated DualSense design. On the Portal, any game with gyroscopic controls can be quite challenging.
There is no Bluetooth functionality on the Portal. It only has a button that activates Sony’s PlayStation Link technology, requiring users to purchase the $200 Pulse earbuds or a brand-new first-party Sony headset. Players need to do this until any third party adopts the technology.
Another issue is, that the Portal will not be able to access the PS5 until the player is logged in. It shouldn’t be an issue if players use their PS5 frequently. However, there’s a very good chance they will need to switch on their PS5 for a little while if they don’t use your primary console every day.