PlayStation Portal Review – A True Handheld Accessory

When it comes to streaming video games, it’s easy to delve into the realm of negativity. With Microsoft’s Xcloud, you’re using a clunky attachment mounted to your phone or streaming Kingdom Hearts on your Switch. Then there’s PlayStation’s Remote Play, which allows you to access your PlayStation console using your iPhone and a sturdy Wi-Fi connection. That’s where the PlayStation Portal aims to change the game. But is the PlayStation Portal worth the price of admission? Read on, and you’ll see it in our PlayStation Portal review.

Name: PlayStation Portal
Manufacturer: PlayStation
Price: $199.99
Release Date: November 15, 2023

Personally, I am not a fan of using my phones or tablets as a way to play video games. I don’t like that my phone is occupied, draining the battery and getting interrupted by incoming calls. We all know mobile phones are strictly for social media, audiobooks, and YouTube, not video games. Occasionally, I make an exception to play Honkai Star Rail, but with the Portal, I no longer have to.

Running off the same principles of Remote Play, the Portal is a sleek handheld device that allows you to stream games straight from your PlayStation 5. The Portal incorporates the same features as the DualSense controllers but swaps out the touchpad for an 8-inch touchscreen. On the inside, a full battery will give you a good seven to eight hours of playtime and a built-in microphone if you want to try out some multiplayer goodness.

The PlayStation PRO-tal

What I undoubtedly love the most about my PlayStation Portal, however, is my untethered access to my PS5. I no longer need to be in my gaming room to play on my console. My PS5 can be accessed from any room in my house so long as my PS5 is set to rest mode. Playing games in bed has never been easier and quieter.

After Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law had a family get-together, and I figured it would be the best time to test our Wi-Fi out. She runs a small business out of her home, and I connected to the Wi-Fi effortlessly. I then spent the next few hours hiding in a corner playing Star Rail and only ran into one small connection issue. I had one or two hiccups, causing the stream to falter, but otherwise, gaming outside of your home is a real possibility… maybe just not on a flight.

Lastly, the tech feels carefully considered, Bluetooth connections aside. The Portal doesn’t need the bells and whistles that make up the DualSense controllers. However, the haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and overall feel of the PlayStation Portal make it feel like a true, handheld extension of the PS5. It’s also lightweight and feels sturdy, though I dare not test out the latter.

PlayStation Portal Pros and Cons

We’ve updated our review of the PlayStation Portal since  Sony introduced cloud streaming capabilities for the device, allowing users to play select titles without needing a PlayStation 5, back in November 2024. While it doesn’t change how the device works with the PlayStation 5, it does give the Portal a bit more veristlaity, as you can now stream select games to the PlayStation Portal without needing a PlayStation 5 along as you have a PlayStation Plus Premium membership. This is something that Sony should have included at the launch of the device, as the reception would have been more favorable. But while you can’t change the past, you can improve the future and that’s exactly what Sony did.

Outside of the cloud streaming, the PlayStation Portal does have drawbacks, such as its strict dedication to your PS5 hardware. You’ll need to be connected to Wi-Fi, the console the Portal is tethered to must be set in rest mode, and you’ll need a healthy internet connection. If you have a PS4, forget about using the Portal because it is not compatible with the previous generations of PlayStation hardware.

However, not every game is suitable for streaming, even with a sturdy Wi-Fi connection. The heavier the game’s load, the rougher the experience will be. During my time with the PlayStation Portal, I played Final Fantasy XVI, Spider-Man 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Wayfinder, and Honkai Star Rail. Playing Spider-Man 2 was by far the worst experience I had, being only a few feet from the source.

There was too much going on for the stream to keep up. With Final Fantasy XVI and Wayfinder, I experienced some latency issues, but Baldur’s Gate and Star Rail play great, which is all you need, really. It simply depends on how much is going on with the game, which will determine how well the PlayStation Portal can handle things.

What use is it having such an amazing screen, when the device is gimped from conception? I don’t know whose idea it was to give the Portal a 15 Mbps bitrate limit, but whoever it was I’d like to talk with them. It’s like the Portal was originally made as a device to use mobile data, which would make sense with bitrate limitation. but then we’re told it’s for home use,  and home networks are much faster than most mobile plans or even home internet plans (up until it its your router and hits your home network). This severely gimps the device and it sucks.

Another downside is that you’re limited to the type of wireless headset you can use. If you purchased the older Pulse headset for the PS5, those won’t work, as the Portal doesn’t support them. You instead have to buy the Pulse Explore earbuds, which will run you another $200. There’s also the new Pulse Elite headset that you purchase is available for $149 USD. The Portal does support wired headsets or earbuds with 3.5mm audio, thankfully.

Is the PlayStation Portal Worth Your Money

If you saw me in a space where I could play on my Portal and you asked if it was worth buying one, my immediate answer would be, “Absolutely.” Then, I’d ask you about your home internet, if you plan on using Wi-Fi or a wired connection, had a PS5 in the first place, and are willing to spend $200 more on your console. I may hop the fence into “maybe” territory, depending on your answers.

The PlayStation Portal is an excellent device and the perfect companion for anyone wanting to play their PS5 on the go. However, it is held back by relying on sturdy Wi-Fi at home and wherever else you may be. My PS5 is wired, which helps, but the Portal’s capabilities are at the mercy of your location. A shoddy Wi-Fi connection is a means to unstable streaming. That doesn’t mean you can’t carry your Portal around the house and game wherever you want, though.

On the flip side, if you have something like a Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Logitech G Cloud, or even an iOS or Android tablet or phone, you can run software such as PXPlay or Chiaki and have a better experience. But it does require a bit of tinkering and it’s not for everyone.

At the end of the day, I believe the PlayStation Portal is one of the best devices Sony has put out for the PS5 lately. Unlike my PSVR2, I don’t find myself dusting it off and ensuring it’s charged due to inactivity. It’s got a little spot on my bedside table where it rests after cleaning up some activities in Honkai Star Rail or bringing law and order to the streets of Detroit as Robocop.