The PlayStation Portal is currently the hottest gaming accessory on the planet. The remote player’s stock is sold out everywhere, and the device is selling for more than $300 on eBay — that’s $100 over its $199 RRP.
I’ve been testing the PlayStation Portal out for the last week or so, and while the handheld gaming device is growing on me, I still don’t understand why there’s so much hype. If you’ve been waiting to play your PS5 remotely and are disappointed to see that the PlayStation Portal stock levels are depleted, we may have alternative solutions that make equally great gifts this holiday season.
Thankfully, PlayStation Remote Play works on most of the devices in your home, so you don’t actually need dedicated hardware. Here are some fantastic iPhone controllers on sale for Black Friday that will give you a similar PlayStation gaming experience without paying over the odds on the aftermarket for a PlayStation Portal.
Where to find the best Black Friday iPhone controller deals
- Amazon — Up to 60% off gaming controllers
- Best Buy — Save 30% on iPhone controllers
- Target — big savings on iPhone gaming accessories
Backbone One — the obvious choice
The BackBone One is the obvious choice to make your iPhone come as close to the PlayStation Portal experience as possible. Officially licensed by Sony, the BackBone One is available with USB-C for the iPhone 15 lineup and Lightning for the iPhone 14 and older. It’s a grip-style controller that slots over your iPhone to give you a handheld experience while still taking advantage of the beautiful OLED display.
Backbone recently released a brand-new 2nd generation of the One with an improved D-pad, a better launcher app, and, most importantly, a new design that means you can use your iPhone for gaming without removing your case like in the previous generation.
- iPhone deals: Verizon | AT&T | Mint Mobile
Not only will you be able to play your PS5 games using Remote Play, but the Backbone works with Xbox Cloud Gaming and all iOS games, giving you far more choice than a PlayStation Portal ever would. Not only is the Backbone One a great choice, but the 2nd generation model is reduced to $69.99 for Black Friday, that’s 30% off the usual $99.99 price tag.
Xbox controller + mount — a comfortable choice
Did you know you can play PS5 Remote Play with an Xbox controller connected to your iPhone? Yes, it’s not as ideal as using a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, but, in my opinion, the Xbox controller is the most comfortable option on the market and is also far cheaper.
- Gaming laptop deals: Dell | Walmart | Lenovo | Best Buy | HP | Amazon | Razer
- Gaming PC deals: Dell | Walmart | Lenovo | Best Buy | HP | Amazon
- Xbox controller deals: Amazon | Razer | Dell | Best Buy | Walmart
Reduced from $65 to $45 for Black Friday, the Xbox controller can serve as a multi-purpose gaming controller for your Remote Play needs as well as playing games on your Mac. And, if you own an Xbox, you can either use the controller you already own or have an extra one when your friends come around to play.
To get the handheld vibe from the controller, you’ll need a mount, and this cool-looking mount from NBCP connects to your iPhone via MagSafe — if that’s not one of the best uses of MagSafe I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is. Thanks to Black Friday, the controller and mount come in at a sweet $60, saving you $240 compared to the current PlayStation Portal eBay prices.
PlayStation Portal stock is low, but who cares?
The PlayStation Portal may be low on stock across the globe, but why should that stop us from playing our PlayStation games on the go? Your iPhone is always in your pocket, and that makes it one of the best portable gaming options around. So don’t pay over the odds for the PlayStation Portal this Black Friday and instead get a more affordable and more convenient option with one of these iPhone controller solutions.
