HW Test: PlayStation Portal – Remote Control with Display

The latest addition to the PlayStation 5 family of accessories is a bit of an oddity in concept, although at first glance it looks like another of the many generic handheld devices that have spawned a number over the past year or two. But in reality it is “just” a kind of “remote terminal” or “remote control” if you like. With it, you can stream games from your PlayStation 5 console without the need for a TV or monitor, either from home or remotely from anywhere you have a wireless Internet connection.

However, this relatively limited functionality of the device is one of the reasons why it is somewhat more affordable compared to traditional standalone handhelds. This is a suitable solution for those who live in a shared home (where several people can claim access to the same TV), like to play games, for example in bed before going to bed, or travel to places where wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi) is available. Fi).

• Connection: USB-C (charge only), 3.5mm headphone jack, PS Link, Wi-Fi 5
• Battery: Built-in lithium-ion, about 4 hours working time
• Display: 1920 x 1080, touch, LCD, 60 Hz
• Dimensions: 35 x 10 x 15 cm
• Weight: 1088 grams
• Price: CZK 5,390 (Sony)

Construction and operation

Once you unbox the device, you may be surprised at how big and spacious it looks. The DualShock is one of the relatively larger controllers (which is why it grips so well), and here it’s practically attached to an eight-inch (twenty-centimeter) LCD screen – everything looks solid and consistent, which also allows it to sit very well in the hands, at least , for an older player. Here you will find all the buttons that the DualSense controller has, in almost the same design and in the same place. In addition, on the top side of the device there are additional buttons for turning on, changing the volume and connecting via the PS Link signal. At the bottom of the device there is a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm jack for connecting headphones using a cable.

After turning on the device for the first time, it’s time to configure basic settings such as language or time (make sure you enter the correct year, otherwise you might accidentally get stuck on that screen and it won’t let you go any further) and, of course, connecting to your Wi-Fi network -Fi. To select and confirm individual options, you can now use the touch screen as a controller or directly. The first time you connect, you’ll need a little patience as several firmware update files will be automatically downloaded and installed before you finally get to the beautiful screen with the glowing circular portal serving as the gateway/animation to start the stream. from your PlayStation 5 console.

Suitable for sharing and playing in bed.

Once connected to the PlayStation 5 console, it would be an exaggeration to say that you play the same as if you were sitting in front of the TV with a classic controller. Since it’s not actually a separate gaming device, but “just” a screen for streaming from your console, all the interface and functionality looks and behaves like you know it from “normal” console use. It’s quite a pleasant shock, however, when the stunning graphics of the PlayStation 5’s most complex games suddenly run “in your hands” on a portable device that (given the display size) has enough resolution and frame rate for those graphics to really stand out. . Playing graphics-intensive games like Horizon: Forbidden West this way is a truly powerful experience, and unlike the iPhone, you don’t have to worry about the device overheating in your hands (as happens with current native games on these platforms ). Some may argue that an OLED display would be better (mainly for gaming in the dark so that the blacks on the display are truly black), but I can assure you that even this LCD performs very well and the viewing angles do too quite rich. (For better contrast, it is not necessary to hold the device completely perpendicular to the eyes).

Purpose and limitations

As we’ve already discussed, PlayStation Portal is really “only” for remote gaming from your PlayStation 5 console. As such, it is entirely dependent on the quality of your wireless signal, picture, sound, and button response. If you have fast enough Internet and your Wi-Fi isn’t currently occupied with something else (like watching Netflix on TV or downloading an app in the background on your console or computer), playing Portal works almost flawlessly, without any issues. chances of experiencing any lag or dips in image quality or smoothness. For best results, it is also recommended to temporarily disconnect other devices from your Wi-Fi, as many of them tend to connect or even update without your control.

Of course, such a “secondary connection” will not significantly threaten a slower game – for example, turn-based RPGs are practically untouchable in this case. But if you’re playing a pure action game where reflexes and milliseconds matter, even a small glitch can backfire. It also seemed to me that a drop of a millisecond or several frames could happen if something very fast and significant happened in the game (for example, during a big explosion, I lost both image and sound for a split second). As such, your preferences in game genres can have a significant impact on how satisfied you are with the PlayStation Portal. A very pleasant discovery is that when connected from another location, streaming works almost the same as if you were on your home network – but of course, depending on the Wi-Fi load in both places.

The device does not have an Internet browser, which can be a problem if you want to connect, for example, abroad at an airport – some networks require negotiations in the browser, which cannot be implemented on the device due to the lack of a browser. In short, you need Wi-Fi, which you can select from the network menu and optionally enter a password to connect to it. The second technical limitation is the lack of Bluetooth, so when it comes to wirelessly connecting your headphones, you’re reliant on PlayStation headphones with PS Link (only newer models have it, but if you’re gaming at home, you can connect the older Pulse too). headphones separately to the console directly). Alternatively, you can connect any headphones to the 3.5mm jack using a cable. Battery life is quite good: at maximum screen brightness it lasts about four hours. When it comes to long-term use, the longevity of analog sticks is still a question mark, especially when it comes to the potential issue of them “drifting”, which is a fairly common problem with this generation of sticks. gaming equipment.