PlayStation Portal Review

PHOTOGRAPH: SONY

I was a huge fan of the PlayStation Vita and I still have one , but then SONY sweetened the pot when they added the PlayStation portable to their roster and after a long and grueling wait for PS5 handheld fans (basically dormant because Nintendo Switch took over the handheld gaming thrown by a landslide in terms of gaming power and units produced) the Play Station Portal is here and it’s Sony’s attempt to compete amid the renaissance of gaming handhelds. Functionally, however, it has little in common with any of those devices. Instead of installing games on it and playing them anywhere, you can only stream games from your PlayStation 5 on the Portal. Streaming is possible via your home Wi-Fi or the internet, as long as you have the bandwidth, but your console has to be on and online for it to work—acting as a server.

However there is a stand by mode for your PS5 that I usually leave mine in so I can access it from anywhere and at anytime in my home as long as I’m on the same Wi-Fi.

When not at home you need a 4G Hotspot for supreme connectivity.

PHOTOGRAPH: SONY

When I want to play Spider-Man 2 but don’t want to be in the living room, the Portal lets me chill in bed with my game. It’s even handy if I want to play some games in the living room while my partner watches a show on TV.

For just $200, it would be one of the cheapest handhelds you can buy, if not for the fact that you need a console that costs at least $400 for it to work.

The Portal’s design is an interesting mix, essentially a DualSense controller sliced down the middle with an 8-inch LCD screen , with solid black levels and support for up to 1080p Full HD video at 60 frames per seconda screen in between. It mirrors your phone’s interface, eliminating the need to remap buttons and offering a somewhat untethered gaming experience. The screen quality is sick and the batteries life span packs a decent punch for a lightweight DualSense controller.

In terms of the gameplay experience, the PS Remote Play app comes free and provides decent gameplay, granted you have strong Wi-Fi. So, Strong Wi-Fi and distance from your PS5 could come into play causing streaming stress so be weary, for those already invested in the PlayStation ecosystem and hungry for on-the-go gaming, this could potentially be an exciting addition to your arsenal.

For the gamers seeking mobility and flexibility, the Portal delivers on its promise of enabling gaming somewhat untethered from the traditional console setup. The screen provides vibrant graphics, and the batteries capably endure the demands of streaming high-quality games, delivering a seamless gaming experience on the move. It’s an extension of your PS5, packing into your pocket the gaming prowess of your console. The PS Remote Play app, free to download, is the linchpin, tying together the experience perfectly. However, it’s important to note that the performance hinges significantly on having robust Wi-Fi. BandWidth up y’all!!!