You want to play your PS5 on the go. Sony’s answer is the PlayStation Portal. It’s a handheld device made just for streaming from your PS5 or PS Portal. But is it the right choice for you in 2025? This article looks at what it does and if it’s worth buying.
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What is the PlayStation Portal?
The PlayStation Portal is not a new console. It is a dedicated remote play device. It has an 8-inch LCD screen and a DualSense controller split in half on each side. It streams games directly from your PS5 over your home Wi-Fi network. You must own a PS5 to use it.
How It Works: The Good and The Bad
The Portal does one thing: it lets you play your PS5 anywhere in your house, almost like using a portable screen for PS5. The idea is that you can play while someone else uses the TV.
The Good:
- DualSense Features: It has all the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of a real DualSense controller. This is a big plus for games that use these features well.
- Simple Setup: It is designed to connect easily to your PS5.
- Lightweight: It is comfortable to hold for long gaming sessions.
The Bad:
- No Bluetooth: You cannot connect standard Bluetooth headphones. You must use Sony’s proprietary PlayStation Link headphones or a wired headset. This is a frustrating limitation.
- Wi-Fi Only: It only works on Wi-Fi. You cannot use a cellular data connection. This means you can’t truly use it anywhere, only where there is Wi-Fi you can connect to.
- Completely Dependent on Your Network: If your home Wi-Fi is slow or has a lot of interference, the Portal will have lag and a blurry picture.
PS Portal vs. Other Options
The Portal isn’t the only way to play your PS5 remotely. You have other choices that might be better.
Using a Phone or Tablet: You can use the free Remote Play app on your phone or tablet. You then attach a controller, like a DualSense, to your device. This does the same thing as the Portal for free, if you already have a phone and controller.
Using a portable screen for ps5: You can connect a small portable monitor to your controller for a bigger screen. A good ps5 gaming monitor that is portable can give you a larger, higher-quality image than the Portal’s 8-inch screen. This is a more versatile setup.
The Portal is more convenient than these DIY setups, but it is also less flexible.
Who Should Buy the PS Portal?
The Portal is a very specific device for a specific person.
Consider the Portal if:
- You have a very strong and reliable home Wi-Fi network.
- Your main goal is to play PS5 in another room in your house.
- You value the convenience of a dedicated device over a phone setup.
- You absolutely must have the DualSense haptic feedback.
Avoid the Portal if:
- You want to play your PS5 outside of your home (like on a trip).
- You don’t want to buy special headphones for it.
- You already have a tablet or phone that you can use for Remote Play.
- Your home Wi-Fi is not excellent.
The Biggest Problem in 2025
The biggest issue for the Portal hasn’t changed: cloud streaming. You still cannot stream games directly from the cloud with a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription. You can only stream from your own PS5 console. This means your PS5 must be on and connected to the internet at home.
This limits true portability. You can’t just take the Portal to a hotel and play; your PS5 has to be on at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use the PS Portal away from home?
Technically, yes, but it is difficult. You would need to connect the Portal to a Wi-Fi network and have your PS5 in rest mode at home. The experience is often not good due to the internet speeds at most hotels or cafes.
Q: Does it require a PlayStation Plus subscription?
No. You only need a PS5. You do not need a PlayStation Plus subscription to use Remote Play with the Portal.
Q: What is the battery life?
The battery lasts about 7-8 hours on a single charge, which is decent for a handheld device.
Q: Can I use it for cloud streaming?
No. This is a major limitation. You can only stream games that are installed on your PS5 at home.
Q: Is the screen good?
The 8-inch LCD screen is 1080p and looks fine. However, it is only 60Hz, so you won’t get a 120fps experience like you might on your main TV.
The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?
The PlayStation Portal is not for everyone. It is a luxury item for a specific situation.
It is worth it only if you are all-in on the PlayStation ecosystem, have a great home network, and really want the convenience of a dedicated device for playing in another room.
For most people, using a smartphone with a controller attachment or a versatile portable screen for the ps5 is a smarter, more flexible, and cheaper choice. You can use that setup for other things too.
In 2025, the Portal feels like a missed opportunity. Without true cloud streaming, it remains tethered to your home. Unless Sony adds this feature, it’s hard to recommend for most gamers.
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