Having extensively used the PlayStation 5, the introduction of the PlayStation Portal, featuring an 8-inch screen sliced into the PS5 controller, brought a sense of humor to the gaming experience. The stretched-out design, with the display placed in the middle, gives the controller an amusing appearance, particularly with the PS5 button awkwardly shifted to the left side.
"Awkward" seems to be the prevailing theme in the Portal experience, extending from the design and setup process to the actual gaming experience. Despite limited time with the device due to a late review unit arrival and initial connectivity issues, several games were played on the Portal to assess its battery life and graphics quality.
Retaining the familiar controller vibrations, the Portal also boasts its own speakers. It allows simultaneous audio playback with the PS5 and Portal, and users can plug headphones into the Portal or use Sony's wireless earbuds. While the speakers are standard, increasing the volume does impact battery life.
The battery life offered about eight hours of solid gameplay, after which the graphics quality began to decline, accompanied by random disconnections from the PS5. Multitasking emerged as the most practical use case for the PlayStation Portal, enabling users to play games while watching TV. A noteworthy example was playing Persona 5 Strikers during a workout, a feat challenging to achieve on a TV while engaging in activities like Pilates.
Despite some connectivity issues and a peculiar design, the PlayStation Portal finds its niche in facilitating multitasking, offering a unique gaming experience that complements various daily activities.
The PlayStation Portal faces significant limitations due to connectivity issues, particularly in outdoor or obstructed Wi-Fi environments. Attempts to use the Portal outside or in areas with Wi-Fi signal obstructions resulted in immediate disconnections, highlighting a notable constraint in its functionality.
While the Portal is explicitly marketed as a remote-play device for mirroring TV content on a smaller screen, it lacks the versatility found in handheld gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. The Portal's screen, being LCD instead of OLED, represents a downgrade compared to the recent announcement of the Steam Deck with an OLED display capable of higher definition for PC titles.
PlayStation's dominance in the market for blockbuster exclusives with top-tier visuals creates an expectation for hardware capable of delivering a comparable gaming experience. Despite PlayStation's claim that the Portal runs at up to 60 frames per second with a 1080p resolution, its performance is situational. As the battery level dropped below 30 percent, lagging issues emerged, even affecting still images and causing a degradation in graphics quality, such as in the preinstalled game Astro's Playroom. The Portal, in its current form, falls short of providing a seamless and consistently high-quality gaming experience.
When the PlayStation Portal is working optimally, powered and connected to a stable Wi-Fi, it demonstrates virtually no screen lag. Real-time actions in games, like Peter Parker's web-slinging in Spider-Man 2, are mirrored seamlessly on the Portal, offering a consistent gaming experience. The device is particularly suitable for extended gaming sessions while watching TV or for users sharing a TV with roommates or family. Depending on home layout, it may even facilitate playing PS5 games in unconventional locations like the toilet, albeit with occasional disconnection issues.
The inclusion of a touch screen on the Portal is appreciated, even though its utility in games or typing is limited in current gameplay scenarios. While the initial setup involves watching the game simultaneously on both the TV and handheld screen, this might not be a preferred usage for most users, especially with high-quality TV screens. However, the Portal is positioned as an option for individuals without constant access to a TV, offering a more affordable alternative to purchasing a second TV.
In its present state, the PS Portal is likened to a party trick—a novelty purchase for those curious about its capabilities. However, given the prevalent connection issues, it may not deliver a consistently smooth gaming experience. Described as an unnecessary accessory at this point, it may be considered a nice-to-have item but one that can be skipped for the time being.
