PlayStation Portal release date, price, features, specs, and everything we know

The PlayStation Portal is out now. The game-streaming portable handheld gaming device from Sony will put the power and capability of your PS5 into your very hands, and we're incredibly excited about it.

Heading off the most common element to clarify at the top here, unlike the Nintendo Switch or the Steam Deck, the PlayStation Portal doesn't run games natively - instead, it is a streaming-only device, mirroring your main console onto its smaller screen. It offers a portal into your PS5, if you will, and its sole purpose is to translate some of the best PS5 games from the big screen to its smaller one, fitting into people's lifestyles accordingly within that framework.

It also differs from other handhelds from a design and build perspective; where others are built around a system and screen, the Portal is built around a DualSense controller. This makes it brilliant from a comfort and accessibility perspective. 

We've gathered all the key information about the device in one place so you can quickly get eh lowdown.

PlayStation portal: cut to the chase

• What is it? The next handheld gaming device from Sony, built to stream and mirror your PS5 via PlayStation Remote Play
• When did it come out? November 15, 2023
• How much does it cost? $199.99 / £199.99
• What do I need to make it work? A PS5 console, and a solid and stable internet connection
• Who makes it? Sony

PlayStation Portal release date

The PlayStation Portal came out on November 15, 2023, almost exactly three years to the day of the release of the PS5 itself. 

PlayStation Portal price

The PlayStation Portal will cost you $199.99 / £199.99 and is out in the wild now - however, the popularity of the device has seen pre-order stock and launch stock be very hard to come by. We recommend checking in with our dedicated PlayStation Portal stock page to try and secure your unit.

For some reference, the PlayStation Portal's price point is comparable to a budget gaming tablet. In the handheld market, the Logitech G Cloud, the closest item comparably in terms of form factor and functionality, retails at $349.99 / £329.99, so Sony's latest offering significantly undercuts it so could be priced very attractively giving the alternatives and service it provides.

PlayStation Portal design and features

The PlayStation Blog post announcing the Portal confirmed several statements made by Jim Ryan in an earlier press release published by Business Wire. Chief among them is the fact that the PlayStation Portal features an 8-inch LCD screen rocking a 1080p resolution at 60fps. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect to one of the best wired gaming headsets, but the post also confirms that you'll be able to use PlayStation Link (Sony's new proprietary wireless technology launching at the same time) with the likes of the upcoming PlayStation Pulse Elite headset and PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds.

There will be no support for Bluetooth with this device, meaning relying on the PlayStation Link technology alone for wireless audio solutions. As well as the above headset and audio duo that will launch the Link tech, a USB dongle will be coming out too. Until then, your best bet might be something wired, and, in reality, that means that the lack of Bluetooth might not be that much of a hurdle, particularly for anyone used to the PS5 not having the connection.

A major advantage of relying on streaming instead of native rendering for gameplay experiences is added battery life and the Portal's clocks in around 6+ hours from what we found in our testing. 

Perhaps the best overall feature of the Portal, however, is the design and form factor. Building the handheld around the excellent DualSense controller means that it retains the form and design that many folks will find incredible from an accessibility point of view.

PlayStation Portal - FAQs

We're all about new and exciting gaming hardware here and you can get the lowdown with the best gaming consoles and the best handheld games consoles available now.