Portal isn’t the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck killer some thought, but it’s still a handy tool for gamers who can’t play on their main TV or just want to be able to enjoy games throughout their home . If you don’t already know what it is, it’s basically an eight-inch 1080p LCD screen sandwiched between two halves of a standard DualSense controller, which means it includes adaptive triggers , haptic feedback and all the benefits of Sony’s latest gamepad. . Its main (and only) purpose is to stream games via Remote Play, which requires a PS5 and a reliable Wi-Fi network.
We like what the portal allows, but some curious technical choices may hinder your enjoyment. For example, because wireless audio relies on Sony’s proprietary Link protocol, you can only use the Pulse Explore Earphones And Pulse Elite Helmet with (sorry, Bluetooth headphones are not allowed). Luckily, it has a 3.5mm audio jack for using a pair of wired headphones, assuming you still have a pair.
Additionally, you may encounter problems if your network performance is not good. Latency can make the experience completely unpleasant, and we certainly don’t recommend trying multiplayer games or fighting titles where precision is paramount. However, we found it much better when the console was connected via Ethernet, which is almost mandatory for stable gaming outside the home. We hope Sony can eventually improve these issues with future software updates, but even with the aforementioned caveats, Portal remains the best all-in-one solution for streaming games via Remote Play.
