Just Bought My PS Portal. Do I Like It?

Disclaimer : It is NOT a professional review. I purchased it quite impulsively and wanted to write out my experience on my first hour.

On November 15th, 2023, PlayStation revealed its newest innovation, the PlayStation Portal. Having observed its development stages, I initially expected a price tag of $299 or more, similar to its competitor, Nintendo. However, it was priced at $199, prompting a quick realization of its strategic pricing.

PlayStation Portal is a remote player, not a console.

Yes, I only learned about this information when it was my turn to purchase it because I never expected to buy it. I have a great TV, comfortable couch, and an awesome sound system, so why would I even consider it when I already have everything I need?

Yet, here I am, crafting a review after impulsively purchasing it during my trip to Japan, my ears perking up like a puppy's upon hearing the staff at the Sony store utter those magical words: 'Yes, we have one left.

So, let's get started.

What's Included

"Why was the box so heavy... when it only had..."

• PlayStation Portal x 1

• Cable x 1

First Impression

💡Lighter Than Expected

: Initially, I anticipated it to be less portable because it was almost twice as heavy as the DualSense controller. However, upon closer inspection, I found that the weight seemed to be distributed more heavily on the handles rather than the screen, which made it feel much lighter than I had expected.

• DualSense : 281g

• Portal : 530g

💡Get a Case

: I can't provide a detailed assessment of its durability since I don't typically handle things roughly. However, given its screen size and white color, I strongly recommend investing in a case and screen protector to ensure proper protection.

Setting Up

💡Faster and Easier

Registration and logging in were seamlessly accomplished through the QR code provided at the end of the updates, a process that took less than 2 minutes

: Although subjective, I believe it's fair to say that setting it up is faster and easier than described in some other reviews. For instance, while some people claimed that the initial updates before registration took around 20 minutes, in my experience, it was closer to 10 minutes or less.

Regarding synchronization, it's often noted that the duration can vary based on internet connection speed. However, in my case, with a sufficiently fast connection, it took less than a minute.

Gaming Experience

💡Latency...Hmm..

There's a delay of 0.2 to 0.3 seconds between your joystick actions and seeing their effects on the screen

: Just a gentle reminder: the PS Portal functions as a remote player, mirroring what's displayed on the TV screen. While the content synchronization is seamless, there is a noticeable latency with control commands.

💡Display...Meh, Whatever..

However, as someone accustomed to streaming games, while it did disappoint me slightly, it didn't completely fail to meet my expectations

: Again, please be reminded that given its nature as a remote play device, there's a noticeable downgrade in its screen display quality.

Summary

Please be reminded that the experience may be subjective, and it is based on my personal experience

• Do I Love It?

  • Yes

• Am I Satisfied With the Overall Gaming Experience?

  • 7.5/10

• Would I Recommend It To Others?

  • Sure, if you already own a PS5 and still have some disposable income

• Do I Think It Is Going To Be Successful in the Global Market?

  • While I have to praise its capabilities, I must also confess that I fatigue more quickly when playing compared to using a TV. Of course, addressing latency and improving graphic quality are key points that need attention before they make it available in other countries.

As mentioned on the top, it is only my first-hour experience with my PlayStation Portal and I only played few games such as 「God of War」 and 「Wonderland」.

However, so far, It heavily depends on the internet connection so, it is not for those who like to carry it around and play PS games in public but, I believe it is for someone like me who wants to play the PlayStation in other room without having to move the entire PS5 and TV screen with me.