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Sony PlayStation Portal · Photo source

Sony · PlayStation

PlayStation Portal

Released November 2023

An 8-inch handheld for streaming games from a PS5 or, with PlayStation Plus Premium, selected PS5 games from the cloud.

Type: Handheld
Output: –
Memory: –
Storage: –
Weight: 529 g

Plays handheld

What reviewers say

Reviews praise the large screen and familiar DualSense controls, but disagree on comfort and streaming reliability. TechRadar and GamesRadar had smooth gameplay; Tom's Guide encountered disruptive lag and preferred a standalone handheld. TechRadar's later update welcomes cloud streaming with Premium, while GamesRadar criticises the lack of ordinary Bluetooth audio.

From techradar.com, tomsguide.com and gamesradar.com

Product links

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Performance

Type: Handheld
Disc drive: No
Storage detail: Streams games rather than downloading and running them locally; Sony does not publish internal storage capacity

Display and video

Built-in screen: 8″ LCD, 1920 × 1080
Built-in screen: Full HD LCD touchscreen; streams supported games at up to 1080p and 60 fps, depending on the game and network
Video output: Built-in screen; no external video output listed by Sony
Audio: Built-in stereo speakers; 3.5 mm headset jack; PlayStation Link wireless audio; Tempest 3D AudioTech in supported games with compatible wired or PlayStation Link headphones

Design and power

Weight: 529 g
Battery life detail: Built-in lithium-ion battery, 4370 mAh at 3.87 V (Sony CFI-Y1016 manual); approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to charge through a PS5 USB Type-C port. TechRadar measured just over 6 hours with haptics enabled and adjusted brightness; GamesRadar measured about 5 hours at full brightness, while Tom's Guide usually obtained about 3 hours with brightness and volume above average
Power use: Rated charging input 5 V, 3 A; Sony specifies a USB Type-C power adapter supporting USB Power Delivery and at least 5 V, 3 A
Colours: White and Midnight Black in Sony's current UK range; a grey PlayStation 30th Anniversary limited edition was also released (GamesRadar)
In the box: Remote player and USB cable; Tom's Guide identifies the cable as USB-C to USB-C

Connections

Ports: USB Type-C charging port and 3.5 mm headset jack
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and PlayStation Link (2.4 GHz); ordinary Bluetooth headphones are not supported. Sony specifies at least 5 Mbps for Remote Play and recommends at least 15 Mbps; public Wi-Fi requiring additional validation needs system software 3.0.1 or later and a smartphone or tablet, following initial setup on home Wi-Fi
Controller: Built-in D-pad, two analogue sticks, face and shoulder buttons; haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games; touchscreen areas reproduce the DualSense touchpad
Backward compatibility: Remote Play of compatible PS5 and PS4 games installed on a PS5; cannot connect directly to a PS4; games requiring a VR headset or other additional peripherals are excluded. Cloud streaming supports selected PS5 titles from the Game and Classics Catalogues and selected owned digital PS5 games with PlayStation Plus Premium; eligible titles vary by region and time, and a PS5 is not required for this mode

Pros and cons

Pros

8-inch Full HD LCD touchscreen with streaming up to 60 fps
DualSense-style controls with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games
Cloud streaming of selected PS5 games with PlayStation Plus Premium, without a PS5 console

Cons

Games need a network connection and cannot be played locally
Wireless headphones need PlayStation Link rather than ordinary Bluetooth
PS5 media apps and games requiring a VR headset are not supported through Remote Play

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Output	Memory	Storage	Weight	Released
ASUSROG Ally (2023)	Handheld	–	16 GB	512 GB	608 g	Jun 2023
LenovoLegion Go (2023)	Handheld	–	16 GB	256 GB – 1 TB	–	Oct 2023
ValveSteam Deck OLED	Handheld	8K	16 GB	512 GB – 1 TB	640 g	Nov 2023

Sources

Photo: gmedia.playstation.com

Sony PlayStation Portal: Midnight Black remote player beside PS5 with separately sold black covers: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: Midnight Black remote player angled with Astro Bot on screen: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: Midnight Black remote player front, connection screen: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: Midnight Black remote player in low horizontal pose: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: Midnight Black remote player angled, connection screen: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: Midnight Black UK retail packaging: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: White remote player and UK retail packaging: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: White UK retail packaging: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: Midnight Black player with UK retail packaging: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: White remote player front with Astro Bot on screen: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: Maker Midnight Black console and accessory range; other hardware sold separately: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: 30th Anniversary grey remote player angled, screen off: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: 30th Anniversary grey remote player front, screen off: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: White remote player beside PS5; console sold separately: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: White remote player in low horizontal pose: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.
Sony PlayStation Portal: White remote player rear view: Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation official product, press or feature photograph. Finishes and separately sold hardware/accessories described in alt text.

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