PlayStation Portal Is Not the Handheld Game Console of Your Dreams
Long-awaited details on the upcoming PlayStation Handheld Handheld Game Machine can be found here . But before you rush to save money for pre-orders (it won’t go on sale until the end of 2023), consider this: as we already knew, PlayStation Portal is not the spiritual successor to the PS Vita. But it’s also not a replacement for Steam Deck or something like Logitech’s G Cloud , which specializes in portable cloud gaming.
The portal is only for streaming your own PS5 games.
The portal is for Sony Remote Play technology only, which means it only works if you already own a PS5. In addition, the PS5 must be turned on and connected to the Internet in order to work. The device will stream PlayStation games anywhere as long as it is connected to reliable Wi-Fi, on an eight-inch screen that supports 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second. It will only support games that are already installed on your PS5 console, as well as those that support the Dual Sense controller. For a smooth gaming experience, Sony recommends using Wi-Fi at 15Mbps.
Surrounding the screen are the DualSense PlayStation 5 controllers, with the same layout and haptic feedback you’re used to. Despite the lack of cloud streaming, Sony has done an impressive job with its Wi-Fi streaming technology, which isn’t always reliable. Based on early testing by IGN, the gameplay was smooth with no stutters or lags. While this may be based on ideal test room conditions, it’s reassuring since the company’s previous remote play options offer a fickle experience depending on your connection.
The list of portal features is quite long.
Now that you know what Portal does, it’s important to focus on what it ca n’t . One of the more egregious omissions is Bluetooth, so you won’t be able to connect your usual pair of wireless headphones to the Portal. Instead, Sony will offer its own noise-cancelling and low-latency headphones that work with PlayStation Link technology. The problem is, the Pulse Explore headphones cost $199.99, the same as Portal itself. The Pulse Elite headset costs $149.99.
There is also no local media playback. You can play media on it, but it will be mirrored from the PS5 itself. In terms of battery life, Sony promises the same battery life as the DualSense controller. The official value is 12 hours, but if you have a PS5, you know that the battery can drain faster depending on how you use the haptics and speakers. Actual battery life will not be known until reviews are released.
Finally, we come to the price. At launch, Portal will cost $199.99, which is quite a lot for a Wi-Fi mirroring device. For $300 you can get a Logitech G Cloud gaming laptop that supports both Xbox Cloud and GeForce Now games, not to mention $199 gets you the entire Nintendo Switch Lite game console.
Given all this, we think it’s best to put this matter on hold.
Instead, consider these alternatives:
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