PlayStation Portal: The controller with a screen that can do more than you think

Those who know me understand: I was not someone you would have called a PlayStation supporter for a long time. Microsoft had a philosophy that I simply found more appealing — more open, gamer-friendly, and less focused on maximizing profit. In contrast, PlayStation made decisions over the years that mostly annoyed me as a gamer.

Then Xbox managed to dismantle itself. After a few unfortunate decisions, the entire leadership team was replaced — and I found myself reaching for the PS5 Pro more and more often. I have now thoroughly tested the Edge Controller. And now, almost to complete the PlayStation universe, the PlayStation Portal landed in my hands. Especially the announced price increases led me to take advantage of the last offer.

“Not PSP, not Vita — but also not just a fancy streaming stick. The Portal is a device that only realizes its full potential with cloud gaming.”

PSP, Vita, Portal — do they belong together?

I had both: PSP and PS Vita. Both were standalone consoles with their own games, their own chip, and their own identity. The PSP was ahead of its time, while the Vita had wonderful hardware and an excellent OLED display — twelve years ago, mind you.

Can the Portal be categorized in this lineup? Not really — and this is explicitly not a criticism. The Portal is conceptually something entirely different: not a standalone gaming device, but a remote play terminal that connects to the PS5 via Wi-Fi. The actual processing power happens on the console at home — the Portal only streams audio and video, sending inputs back. This makes it more akin to a Chromecast with a controller than a successor to the Vita. At first, this may sound limiting — but it turns out to be a strength.

What’s really inside?

The Portal is essentially a DualSense controller split in half, with an 8-inch LCD display inserted between the two halves. Inside, it features a Snapdragon 662 — not a gaming chip, but a streaming SoC responsible for decoding the video stream. The actual processing work is handled by the PS5 at home.

The key point here: The complete DualSense technology has been preserved. Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers work — even during Remote Play. It may sound like a minor detail, but it is the crucial difference compared to any smartphone clamp solution. Anyone who has ever tried gaming on an iPhone with a Backbone controller knows how unsatisfying that can be in the long run.

Remote Play: Better than Expected

The original core function is simply explained: The Portal streams from the PS5 over the home network. Is the TV currently in use? Just keep playing with the Portal. This works surprisingly well in practice — I experienced hardly any latency, only occasional brief interruptions where the image stuttered or the controller input was absent for a second.

I have to qualify that, though: My Wi-Fi signal is not optimal. It’s quite possible that any interruptions were more due to the router than the portal. Those who connect the PS5 to the network via LAN — which is generally recommended — are likely to have an even better experience.

Cloud Gaming in Practice

Setting up was surprisingly easy: When I first started, my PS5 was not readily available—I was on the go. Still, I was able to link the portal with my Sony account and after a quick upgrade to the premium subscription, I jumped right into gaming via cloud gaming. Zero drama.

The Portal thus has a distinct advantage that Xbox never had: you have the controller and display in one device — no fiddling with mounts, no compromises.

The graphics are good; I hardly noticed any artifacts or quality drops. What you can feel: In fast-paced games — shooters, racing games — the latency is noticeable. For such genres, I wouldn’t recommend cloud gaming at this time. However, role-playing games, adventures, and platformers work absolutely fine. I will test this further with a better connection.

Hardware and Ergonomics: Pleasantly Surprised

What surprised me the most: the weight. The Portal is remarkably light — for a device with an 8-inch display, you can hold it surprisingly long without fatigue. The display is large, bright, and color-accurate. No OLED, but absolutely acceptable for this price. And the DualSense controller quality is naturally at PlayStation level: high-quality, solid, with the typically good grip feel.

What’s missing: Bluetooth. Anyone wanting to use headphones needs either Sony’s proprietary PS Link (Pulse Explore, Pulse Elite) or a jack. That’s a bit annoying. For someone without a Sony headset, that’s a real downside.

Strengths and Weaknesses at a Glance

Reasons to consider:

The downsides are:

Buy — or wait for the OLED?

This is a valid question. Rumors about a portable OLED model have been circulating since early 2026 — well documented by leakers with a proven track record. A price of €249–299 is expected, possibly still in 2026. Additionally, there are indications of a standalone PlayStation handheld device under the codename “Project Canis” — which is more aligned with the PS6 launch.

For me, the decision was clear: The announced price increases from Sony prompted me to take action on the last offer. €179 for this device is a fair price. Anyone currently facing the issue of TVs or PS5s being unavailable — or who wants to play on the go — will find a very solid device here.

Feature Comparison: PlayStation Portal vs. Alternatives

Summary: