This was published 2 years ago

Hands-on review with the PlayStation Portal

Julian Price

January 8, 2024 - 12.46am

PlayStation's newest handheld device is coming next month, but there's a world of questions surrounding its place in the Aussie market.

Will it work on the typical Australian internet connection? Is it going to be worth the price?

The PlayStation Portal is releasing in Australia on Feb 2. Nine

The PlayStation Portal is not a standalone console, this new gaming device streams your PS5 directly to it from anywhere in the world over the internet.

It's quite a technological marvel.

The Portal has already been released in the US and UK, selling out on day one and boasting rave reviews.

It's now coming to Aussie retailers on February 2nd, with preorders open. It'll set gamers back $329.95.

Thanks to PlayStation, I had the chance to test it out.

Here's the results of my hands-on experience.

The Portal allows gamers to take their PS5 with them on the road. Nine

How stable is the Portal's connection on Australian internet?

It's not all about your internet speed, it's more about your internet's stability.

PlayStation recommends a minimum 5mbps internet speed. 5GHz is also recommended to use for the Wi-Fi connection.

For a typical Aussie household using Wi-Fi to connect to their PlayStation 5 console, you'll have a mostly smooth experience.

Booting up the device and connecting it to my console takes about 10 seconds on my home network.

While my partner was streaming movies on the same network, I had a hard time keeping a stable connection. But when I had the house to myself, the portal worked like a dream, with only minor and very short dropouts.

My home internet speed is over 250mbps, so the issue didn't lie there. Wi-Fi stability was my enemy — and I've just moved house so everything wasn't connected to perfection.

Make sure to connect your PlayStation 5 before booting up the Portal. Nine

To improve my connection, I linked my PlayStation 5 directly to the modem via Ethernet cable. Success - almost no more dropouts and a phenomenal experience.

It's essential to game with the Portal over a wired internet connection to your PS5 console.

To step-it-up a notch, if you're utilising your network provider's supplied gear, you're probably in need of a modem upgrade.

This is especially important if you plan to game in a busy internet home.

To improve my setup even more so, I swapped out my NBN provider's supplied modem with something beeifer. Thanks to Netgear, I got to take the Nighthawk WifFi 7 TriBand Router for a test drive.

Using this router improved my connection speed, stablised my home network and made me realise what I've been missing out on for so long. But these things don't come cheap! The Nighthawk Wifi 7 retails for just under $1,500.

Try the Ethernet connection first and see how you go, but in the long term, a new modem upgrade could be a huge quality-of-life booster.

Setting up the Portal for the first time was a breeze. Just make sure you have the PS App installed on your phone. Nine

Does the PlayStation Portal work over a mobile phone hotspot?

Tethering your iPhone or Android device to the Portal works well, as long as you've got a strong 5G connection.

I took the Portal out to Melbourne's CBD and with full reception had barely a stutter.

After handing the Portal to my daughter in the backseat on the drive home, she played the whole way, with only a minor dropout as we travelled under a bridge.

How long does the PlayStation Portal's battery last?

Around four hours, and that's without headphones and with all DualSense features activated and on high.

Colour me impressed.

The Portal isn't being strained by the PlayStation 5's CPU, meaning its main power focus is on the Full HD display, DualSense, internet connectivity and audio.

The Portal features the PS5's iconic DualSense controller. Nine

How's the Portal's controller?

It's very familiar, as it's essentially the same controller I've been gaming with on my PlayStation 5 for years now.

The Portal has an adapted DualSense controller, with slightly smaller thumbsticks. Games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and God of War: Ragnarok are a joy to play, but it took some getting used to when jumping off the Battle Bus for some Fortnite.

Thumbstick sensitivity settings may need adjusting.

Can you connect headphones to the Portal?

Yes, you can. There's a 3.5mm jack and PlayStation's new Pulse range of headphones sync to the portal with the press of a button.

Unfortunately, you can't connect any Bluetooth headset to the device, it has to be PlayStation Link supported range or wired.

Can I watch a streaming service like Netflix or Stan on the Portal?

No, the Portal doesn't support video or music streaming from your console to the device. You're also unable to play any Blu-Rays from your console.

I'm a big Spotify listener on my PlayStation 5 and would love to see this feature added in the future.

In saying that, I have a workaround. The PlayStation Pulse range has dual Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can have your phone and the Portal connected to it at the same time.

Can the TV my PS5 is connected to still be used while playing on the Portal?

Yes it can, though you can't use your PlayStation and Portal at the same time. The Portal is streaming directly from your console to the handheld device, mirroring what's on the screen.

Is the Portal perfect? No, but it's an exceptional piece of technology and just a taste of the future of gaming. If you're a gamer on the go, the Portal is a no-brainer.

The PlayStation Portal will be released in Australia on February 2. If you have any questions about the Portal feel free to reach out to me on X.