PlayStation Portal is Sony’s latest handheld device launching very soon. It lets players use it as a remote-play handheld device for the PS5 on the go, orders are live as of now.
The PlayStation Portal Release Date and Price
According to Sony, PlayStation has been launched on November 15. That is almost exactly three years to the day of the launch of the PlayStation 5 itself. PlayStation Portal is priced at $199.99/£199.99. This is cheaper than other handheld devices such as the Nintendo Switch OLD which has an MSRP of $350.00, and Steam Deck which starts at $500. However, PlayStation Portal is not a gaming device as such, more of a PlayStation 5 streaming device. Logitech G Cloud is more comparable as that is also a cloud-based handheld device that retails at $349.99, which is about $150 more. The PlayStation 5’s price seems even more justifiable and undercuts the current competition in the market in reflection of its features to its price.
Where to Order PlayStation Portal
Currently, many retailers have opened taking orders for the Portal, however last I checked, it is currently unavailable or sold out. You can try and get one at PlayStation Direct, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, or Amazon. Most web retailers will give users an option to buy just one PlayStation Portal from their account.
Portal’s Design
The Portal is sleek, modern, and ergonomic. If you are familiar with the PlayStation 5 controller, it is as minimal as a screen placed right between one. The device as of now just comes in white, like the PlayStation design. It complements all PlayStation devices such as the PS5, and PULSE 3D headset.
PlayStation Portal Features and Specs
PlayStation Portal’s screen is an 8-inch LCD touchscreen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. With the screen being laminated, it has a resolution of 1080p and a maximum refresh rate of 60 Hz. These screen specs are not the best but decent enough to render sharp visuals at that screen size. PlayStation Portal’s controller is not just a DualSense look-alike, it has all its features, such as the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for supported games. This neat device can connect with your PlayStation 5 over your home Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or a strong internet bandwidth. According to Sony, a minimum of 5 Mbps and a high-speed connection of 15 Mbps is recommended. You can stream your PlayStation 5 right from the Portal and play remotely without the need for your home TV. Remote Play has existed for years as you can stream your PlayStation on your Android, Apple devices, PC, and even on Steam Deck using the open-source software Chiaki. This is the first time Sony has launched a dedicated device to their Remote Play.
The Portal has built-in speakers and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have Bluetooth capability so you can’t connect to any Bluetooth-enabled headsets or earbuds. However, the PlayStation Portal comes with a built-in PlayStation Link so you can connect PULSE Explore earbuds, and PULSE Elite headsets seamlessly. It has a 4,370mAh nonremovable battery that charges via USB-C, giving you about 4 hours of gaming per charge.
