Sony’s new PlayStation Portal is a £200 handheld that lets you stream games from your PS5.
The new gaming device is out now, but will it be a must-have this Christmas? Reviews are trickling out, and critics claim it is a sleek gadget that probably won’t appeal to the masses.
That doesn’t come as a surprise. While the thought of Sony releasing its first handheld since the 11-year-old PS Vita seems exciting, the Portal is more of a PS5 accessory than a fully fledged Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch rival.
In fact, most critics are focusing on what the handheld can’t do. For instance, the PlayStation Portal doesn’t let you play games on Sony’s cloud-gaming service, the lack of Bluetooth support means you can’t connect your wireless headphones, and it mainly limits you to gaming at home.
Still, it may hold some appeal for PS5 owners who aren’t satisfied with the Remote Play experience on their laptops and phones. Parents may also consider it for kids who are constantly trying to take over the main TV. And, most reviewers heaped praise on its premium build, which should please PlayStation acolytes.
We’ve pored over the reviews from around the internet and here are some of the main excerpts.
What is the PlayStation Portal?
For the uninitiated, the PlayStation Portal lets you play your PS5 games over the internet. To that end, it’s fair to say that it’s a handheld designed specifically for Remote Play, a feature that players have been using to beam their games onto phones and laptops for three years now.
In terms of its design, the Portal looks like a DualSense controller with a tablet wedged between it. The main specs are as follows:
The LCD screen has a max 1080p resolution and max refresh of 60Hz
It supports Wi-fi 5 (802.11ac)
4,370mAh non-removable battery that charges via USB-C
Top-firing stereo speakers
A 3.5mm headphone jack
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Support for Sony’s new PlayStation Link-enabled headphones for lossless audio
Is the PlayStation Portal any good?
The consensus on the Portal seems to be that it is a niche device that looks and feels good, and performs its main function relatively well. Here’s what the critics think:
Polygon
It is, in fact, just a device for playing games over Sony’s Remote Play feature. Exclusively. That’s it. That’s all it does. And it’s pretty good at doing that one thing. But so are a lot of devices, at this point! So we’re kinda left wondering why the PlayStation Portal even exists. [Full Review]
VGC
As comfortable as holding a normal DualSense, it’s the antidote to the hand cramps of the Nintendo Switch. Your mileage will vary, but if you find yourself with your gaming time interrupted because of a monopolised TV, then the PlayStation Portal could be the reason you burn through your backlog faster than you thought. [Full Review]
The Verge
My first impression is that this device is primarily for PlayStation diehards who want a simple, dedicated tool for streaming games around their homes. It may be for when the main TV is in use or to take games to other rooms like the bedroom or the bathroom (if you’re okay with flagged devices), but $200 is a little pricey for such a single-use accessory to a $400–$500 game console – especially when there are many other options available that you may already own. [Full Review]
Kotaku
It’s a solid sub-$200 gift option for the gamer in your life who’s always hogging the TV when you’re trying to watch Vanderpump Rules or Monday Night Football. [Full Review]
Engadget
I can't abide hardware I can't trust, and the PlayStation Portal is among the most fickle devices I've encountered. Even if you have an excellent home-networking setup, it’s hard to predict just how well it will perform. That’s a shame, since its battery life is among the best we’ve seen for a portable system, lasting between seven and eight hours of gameplay. [Full Review]
TechRadar
The Portal is not pretending to be anything else apart from a quality remote-play device for your PS5, and it absolutely nails its brief. As long as you come to it knowing what it does and what it can offer you, then it wholeheartedly, unabashedly, spectacularly succeeds. [Full Review]
Digital Trends
It’s just surprising to see how many corners could be cut with such a simple device. You really get what you pay for here, but you might wish you could have ponied up for a bit more. [Full Review]
