2025 has finally arrived.
Many gamers are probably already excited, as big titles are set to be released soon this year.
Many of you are likely clearing your backlog during the long holiday break. I'm doing the same.
However! During the New Year holidays, there are also many TV shows you want to watch, and if you're gathered with family, it becomes even harder to use the living room TV.
That's why we recommend the "PlayStation Portal Remote Player (hereafter, PS Portal)" to all of you, gamers!
It's a handheld device that connects to your PlayStation 5, letting you enjoy gaming in the palm of your hand.
Unboxing the "PS Portal"!
When it was first released, the PS Portal was constantly sold out.
It seems to be more readily available now, as I easily got one at a certain electronics store.
Let's unbox it right away!
The tab for removing the inner box is also designed with PlayStation buttons.
Pop!
Checking the contents!
The contents of the PS Portal are as simple as:
- PS Portal unit
- USB Type-C cable
- Instruction manual
Checking the PS Portal unit!
That moment when you peel off the seals and plastic from a new device is irresistible, isn't it?
The LCD display is 8 inches, with 1080p resolution and 60fps refresh rate support.
Saiga NAK
It's obvious, but the grip of the controller integrated with the display is the same as a regular DualSense.
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The top has two volume buttons, a power button, and a PlayStation Link button.
The PlayStation Link button is used to pair or connect headsets and earbuds compatible with PlayStation Link.
The bottom has a USB port and a 3.5mm headset jack.
The smaller hole is for the microphone, so you can use voice chat without a headset.
This is perfect for comparing sizes!
Your right and left hands will be further apart due to the display, but you'll quickly get used to the same operational feel!
△◯×□ is here too...!
The textured surface was a hot topic when the PlayStation 5 was released.
I thought, "Could it be?" and looked closely...
As expected, the playful spirit is still alive!
An enormous number of “△◯×□” were arranged.
"PS Portal" Initial Setup and Pairing!
You probably want to use it right away, but first, let's prepare!
Start your PlayStation 5 and go to System in Settings.
Check "Remote Play > Enable Remote Play" and you're ready!
Additionally, as an option, if you enable "Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode > Turn on PS5 from Network," you can power on your PlayStation 5 from Rest Mode via the PS Portal.
It's very convenient to be able to play games with just the PS Portal without ever using a TV or monitor, so we recommend this setting!
Thank you for waiting.
This is the first boot of the PS Portal.
Select your language and...
Select and connect to the network you want to use.
According to the PlayStation official website, when using the PS Portal, it is recommended that...
- The PlayStation 5 is connected to the internet via a wired connection.
- If the PlayStation 5 is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi, the PS Portal should also be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- The PS Portal uses a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection.
- The Wi-Fi router's band steering function is disabled.
- A high-speed connection of 15Mbps or more is used.
Agree to the System Software Usage Agreement and...
Sign in to PlayStation Network!
You can sign in using your preferred method, such as manually entering your email address and password, scanning a QR code to enter from your smartphone, or using "Settings > Console Management" in the PlayStation App.
You're almost there!
Select the PlayStation 5 you are using and pair it, then...
It really showed up on the screen!
The screen operated on the PS Portal is also output to the PlayStation 5.
Play PlayStation Anywhere with the "PS Portal"!
As already mentioned, the feel when gripping it and the game's operation are almost the same as a DualSense.
If the game supports it, it also supports haptic feedback and adaptive trigger functions.
Saiga NAKRelaxing at the counter...
Saiga NAKWhile warming up last night's leftover food...
*If you are connected to a 2.4GHz network, the connection may become unstable if you get too close to a microwave oven in use.
Saiga NAKWhile taking a break on the balcony...
You can play anywhere within network range!
The "PS Portal" Continues to Evolve
Saiga NAKThe PS Portal is PlayStation's first dedicated remote play device.
The system software update released in November 2024 improved the audio experience, and a beta version of the cloud streaming feature, which allows you to play games directly without going through your PlayStation 5, was also released.
By enabling the feature from the PS Portal, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can stream certain PlayStation 5 titles included in the game catalog.
For more details on how to use it, please check the PlayStation.Blog.
Although it's still in the experimental stage and available features may change, the PS Portal has essentially become an independent portable game console.
We can't take our eyes off its future developments.
