Sony reveals the PlayStation Portal arriving later this year for $199

[Cal Jeffrey]

Something to look forward to: Earlier this year, Sony teased us with an upcoming portable streaming device codenamed "Project Q." Rather than having on-board processing, the device streams content from your PlayStation 5 over WiFi. Today, it revealed an official name, price, additional details, and a release window.

We first saw Project Q – Sony's apparent Switch killer – in May. The handheld gaming machine is now officially called the PlayStation Portal. Sony promises the device will provide a "PS5 experience" in a portable package. It features an 8-inch LCD, capable of displaying games in 1080p at 60FPS. Its controllers are the same size and shape as the PS5's DualSense but cut in half and attached to the sides of the screen. However, Sony didn't mention if the controls were detachable like the Switch's Joy-Cons.

The most significant difference between the PS Portal and other handheld gaming machines is that it is strictly streaming. It does not need the most potent portable processors because the hosted PS5 handles everything. So internally, it should be very light, mainly requiring WiFi hardware and the PlayStation Link, which we will touch on in a moment. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Since it is essentially just a screen and controller components, the PlayStation Portal will only cost $200 when it launches later this year. That's $100 less than the Nintendo Switch and more than $200 less than an entry-level Steam Deck. The main limitation is that it cannot play PS VR2 games or PS+ Premium games that stream from the cloud, which makes sense. Otherwise, any installed game on your PS5 should be compatible.

How well the PS Portal will handle streaming content from the PS5 remains to be seen. The current state of the PlayStation Remote Play app is much less than perfect. Using Remote Play, even with high-end hardware like a gaming PC, is still prone to occasional to frequent stuttering. Much of this depends on your wireless connection and whether you are playing over your LAN or the internet. Sony says the PS Portal requires at least a 5Mbps WiFi connection but recommends 15Mbps. We've tested Remote Play over much faster connections and still experienced stutter.

However, comparing the Portal to Remote Play might be unfairly premature. Hopefully, Sony employs an optimized solution that provides smoother gameplay than the app, and perhaps it will. In June, Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said the company was ready to face the "high technical difficulties" the cloud presents. While he was more directly addressing cloud gaming, local streaming faces similar technical challenges.

Sony also updated us on its latest audio technology – the Pulse Elite wireless headset and the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds. The Pulse Elite headphones are just like Sony's current Pulse cans, except for a few new features. Pulse Elite adds a retractible boom mic, AI-driven noise cancelation, and a charging hanger, all welcome upgrades to its current model. The Pulse Explore is a brand-new product, ideal for those who prefer lightweight earbuds. They feature dual microphones, lossless audio, AI noise filtering, and a charging case.

Both options utilize a new connectivity technology Sony calls "PlayStation Link." This wireless system provides lossless audio between the PS Portal and the earphones and buds. It can also seamlessly switch between the PS Portal and the PS5. Unfortunately, the PS5 still requires a Bluetooth dongle to send and receive signals from either listening option.

Sony set an MSRP of $150 for the Pulse Elite headset and $200 for the Pulse Explore earbuds. However, a release window is still pending.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/99896-sony-reveals-playstation-portal-arriving-later-year-199.html

 

[dangh]

It is actually really nice screen for ps5, but for this price it should be an oled screen.

 

[yRaz]

It is actually really nice screen for ps5, but for this price it should be an oled screen.

You want a complete system with an OLED for $200?

 

[Edster]

It makes sense for people who want to play their PS5 on a second screen while the TV is occupied or they just want to play in bed but it feels is very niche considering you can already buy controller attachments to use with a phone. There is a market for a dedicated first party accessories, but it really needs to be priced competitively or just be better products.

I feel for this product to succeed, it really needed to be a very nice screen, especially at that price point and limited function (unlike say a Switch or Steam Deck). Like, I am interested in such solutions, but I struggle to justify this over say, a cheap-ish tablet like a Tab A8 and Backbone attachment. At least with the tablet, I can still use it as a tablet.

 

[dangh]

You want a complete system with an OLED for $200?

How is a device not working by itself but only streaming a screen from ps5 a complete system? There is just a wifi, small frame memory buffer, and a poor mobile apu like in 10 years old phones just to synchronize this few electronics parts inside. Switch oled for 120 more is a complete device, this here is just a thin client. The least they could do was to add a proper screen.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

It makes sense for people who want to play their PS5 on a second screen while the TV is occupied or they just want to play in bed but it feels is very niche considering you can already buy controller attachments to use with a phone. There is a market for a dedicated first party accessories, but it really needs to be priced competitively or just be better products.

I feel for this product to succeed, it really needed to be a very nice screen, especially at that price point and limited function (unlike say a Switch or Steam Deck). Like, I am interested in such solutions, but I struggle to justify this over say, a cheap-ish tablet like a Tab A8 and Backbone attachment. At least with the tablet, I can still use it as a tablet.

As I mentioned, Sony's Remote Play is not a great solution for playing PS5 games remotely. If it were, a $100 Backbone One attached to your mobile phone would be your best bet. However, if Sony has something in the Portal that works better than Remote Play, then $200 is not a bad price, even though it uses LED instead of OLED. It's hard to even find an 8-inch OLED from a reputable dealer for under $200. So bagging on it for that isn't really fair.

As long as it works well and there is not problems with lag or stutter, I'd be interested, but this is definitely not a product you are going to want to pre-order. Wait for it to be out for a bit, let it get some good reviews under its belt, and even wait for the first or second firmware update before buying it would be my advice.

 

[Edster]

As I mentioned, Sony's Remote Play is not a great solution for playing PS5 games remotely. If it were, a $100 Backbone One attached to your mobile phone would be your best bet. However, if Sony has something in the Portal that works better than Remote Play, then $200 is not a bad price, even though it uses LED instead of OLED. It's hard to even find an 8-inch OLED from a reputable dealer for under $200. So bagging on it for that isn't really fair.

As long as it works well and there is not problems with lag or stutter, I'd be interested, but this is definitely not a product you are going to want to pre-order. Wait for it to be out for a bit, let it get some good reviews under its belt, and even wait for the first or second firmware update before buying it would be my advice.

But any devices with OLED will be a complete system, not being tied to a PS5 and restricted to just streaming PS5 games. I am not saying they should have added OLED at that price point, it could be even worth it if is $250 with OLED. The problem is at its current price point and current specs, there is a whole lot more competition and the main point of differentiation is being 1st party and a vague promise of better Remote Play.

And on Remote Play, eh. Competitors at this point have done better with game streaming. I get it that it potentially is a better experience than current Remote Play, but that is an extremely low bar to clear. And a lot of their woes is very self made, like Remote Play is better through Chiaki than their official app on PC. If I am cynical, I would say they are purposefully leaving Remote Play a lot to be desired to make a product like this look better.

 

[toooooot]

One thing I was trying to figure out if it allows you to use your PS remotely from other places using this handheld, including other countries if you choose to go on vacation for example.
If so, it is a very nice bonus. If it can't, well then, the usage it offers is quite limited

 

[yRaz]

How is a device not working by itself but only streaming a screen from ps5 a complete system? There is just a wifi, small frame memory buffer, and a poor mobile apu like in 10 years old phones just to synchronize this few electronics parts inside. Switch oled for 120 more is a complete device, this here is just a thin client. The least they could do was to add a proper screen.

So I read the article wrong, thought it said portable not portal. Regardless, I don't think people understand the true costs of OLEDS. So this is controller with a screen, battery and antenna. I just don't see anything getting an oled at this price point. $200 has so little buying power these days that I think the device is priced appropriately.

 

[Arctican]

You want a complete system with an OLED for $200?

USD199 is way cheaper than the back glass replacement of an Iphone 14 pro max, 3 times over (USD549).

 

[Lounds]

I'm more interested if PlayStation link could be used with PSVR2 in the future as a wireless solution.

 

[kira setsu]

This is a failure in the making already.

unless youre sitting at home with a solid connection it wont work right, this is one of the few times im not worried about an idea taking off because for one its dumb and another its sony and they have no clue how to handle handhelds.

gonna be alot of sad kids this xmas when they get one of these though.

 

[dangh]

This is a failure in the making already.

unless youre sitting at home with a solid connection it wont work right, this is one of the few times im not worried about an idea taking off because for one its dumb and another its sony and they have no clue how to handle handhelds.

gonna be alot of sad kids this xmas when they get one of these though.

This is actually quite good idea - a portable monitor to play at any place at home without bothering other people. Just the price for it doesn't really fit the use. I will most probably get it on some sale, for this price I'd rather save bit more and got steam deck.

 

[Cal Jeffrey]

One thing I was trying to figure out if it allows you to use your PS remotely from other places using this handheld, including other countries if you choose to go on vacation for example.
If so, it is a very nice bonus. If it can't, well then, the usage it offers is quite limited

Yeah, I have been wondering that since they teased it as Project Q, but they still have not specified whether it works over the internet.

So I read the article wrong, thought it said portable not portal. Regardless, I don't think people understand the true costs of OLEDS. So this is controller with a screen, battery and antenna. I just don't see anything getting an oled at this price point. $200 has so little buying power these days that I think the device is priced appropriately.

I couldn't find a comsumer-level OLED froma reputable dealer for under $200