The Sony PlayStation Portal was released in November 2023 for $199.99. Here’s everything you need to know, including where to buy the handheld.
Sony extended the PlayStation 5 gaming ecosystem by announcing its PlayStation Portal cloud gaming controller in 2023.
Unlike some of the best handheld gaming consoles available, the PlayStation Portal only lets users stream games from their PS5 over Wi-Fi. As such, this new accessory is just an extension of your PS5 console and lacks native processing tech and on-board storage.
Despite this limitation, the PlayStation Portal has experienced a huge demand and goes out of stock almost instantly. That said, there are some places where you can find the Portal in stock, but you might have to pay a premium to get hold of this new gadget.
So, if you’re eager to get your hands on the PlayStation Portal, we’ve listed almost everything worth knowing.
Contents:
- Where to Buy PlayStation Portal
- PlayStation Portal price
- PlayStation Portal release date
- PlayStation Portal specifications
- Will PlayStation Portal support other streaming services?
- Is PlayStation Portal a PS Vita 2?
Where to buy the PlayStation Portal
You can get the PlayStation Portal through Best Buy and PlayStation Direct. The wireless device is available with more retailers now.
Sony PlayStation Portal price
The Sony PlayStation Portal is priced at $199.99/219.99 EUROS/199.99 GBP. This aligns with earlier reports hinting that the console will be priced at around $200.
This competitive pricing makes the PlayStation Portal way more affordable than the Logitech G-Cloud cloud gaming console, priced at $349.99, and the Abxylute gaming console retails at $229.
However, unlike the other two consoles mentioned above, the PlayStation Portal’s dependency on a PS5 makes it unique, for better and worse.
Sony PlayStation Portal release date
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The Sony PlayStation Portal was launched on November 15, 2023. The controller was initially made available in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, with a deferred release in Canada and Japan.
While the controller is not globally available, it is not region-locked. This means that if you get the Portal imported to a country where it’s not officially retailing, you can still stream games on the PlayStation Portable using your PS5.
Sony PlayStation Portal specifications
The PlayStation Portal is designed to be portable but isn’t meant to be a standalone gaming console. This means that Sony has been able to skimp on the specifications to offer an extension of the PS5 gaming experience.
The Portal has a large 8-inch LCD panel boasting full HD (1080p) resolution. This screen tops at a 60Hz refresh rate, which is disappointing as most handhelds or portable gaming consoles sport a much higher screen refresh rate.
It has an in-built 4370 mAh battery rated for 8 hours with regular use. This is way higher than most standalone gaming consoles, as the powerful internals of the PS5 take care of the processing, and the Portal only works as a remote display.
In terms of connectivity, the PlayStation Portal comes with a USB-C port for charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, PS Link, and Wi-Fi 5. Unfortunately, it misses Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you cannot use your favorite wireless headphones or gaming earbuds.
Will the Sony PlayStation Portal support other streaming services?
The Sony PlayStation Portal doesn’t support other streaming services out of the box. Presumptions lead us to believe it’s Android-based – Sony’s mobile and TV brands use it – but Sony confirmed that the Portal can only stream games from the PS5.
The PS5 runs a heavily customized version of FreeBSD, a spin on the original Unix operating systems. According to some open-source crediting, it’s presently running FreeBSD 11. The PS3 and PS4 also ran it, bringing the XMB interface to prominence.
Is the Sony PlayStation Portal a Vita 2?
No, the Sony PlayStation Portal is a cloud handheld rather than a dedicated handheld like the Vita.
Also, make sure to check out our other guides:
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