PlayStation Portal - Before You Buy

Sony's newest PS5 handheld has plenty of pros and cons for specific types of players. Let's talk.
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[@jgalvan09]

You have no idea how great of a device this is for Dad Gamers, kids are on the TV while I'm on the couch enjoying BG3

[@seamenow5108]

My wife and I could not agree more. We've been playing so much switch until this came out. Best idea Sony could have come up with imo

[@SpikeTheWolf]

You could've just remote play with any monitor dude.

[@NickRoxx100]

I mean you could just use your phone with a back bone and do the same exact thing for a fraction of the price

[@bdoolzzzz]

I to saw this comment on other sites. Then everyone pointed out the kids would be asking for turns and asking what it is

[@XMS1212X]

100% agree

[@stuff2watchnowmaybe]

I would have bought this in a heartbeat if this had a direct connection to the ps5 like the Wii U gamepad. The latency is a killer for me

[@CaXanh97]

yeah exactly the same for me, latency is such a bummer

[@gmorkins6006]

Yep, not going to deal with the latency.

[@ericadame4885]

@@NickDM111 Don't Ask Questions, Just Consume Product and Then Get Excited for Next Products

[@iHeartOiSkanks]

nOPE, I NOTICE IT TOO MUCH IN NON COMP TYPE FPS GAMES @@NickDM111

[@dapperfan44]

OP I just want to point out that at least you recognize that they (the Wii U GamePad and PS Portal) both have two completely different functions and intended uses, instead of the majority who are directly comparing the two as if they both function the same.

[@JosephDalrymple]

One of the very few channels that I come to for the Before You Buys. Always solid reviews.

[@BTBSOUNDS]

I just wish we had a real handheld portable PlayStation console. Even if it was mainly for backwards compatibility with PS2, PS3 games with rempte play for PS5 and some original games of it's own

[@justin505k]

Steam deck….

[@BTBSOUNDS]

@@justin505k now make it play the PS2 ultimate Spider-Man, web of shadows and the inFamous games

[@angogablogian532]

It was called the Vita and it was glorious.

[@abnormalnox]

There was the psp (playstation portable) and the ps vita

[@Venisor21]

There's steam deck and a few other PC hanheld devices if you don't mind a longer wait for PS exclusive games.

[@maxpower740]

One of the few people I’ve seen actually review the device for what it was meant for and not what it’s not. Good on you!

[@Tochinden]

I've seen plenty of positive reviews 😮 sold out, better streaming device than ur phone since its built for that and only that. Also I don't like to drain my phone battery to 0% in one hour 🙃 In Finland we basically get 5G unlimited to our phones for a cheap price a month so I'm gonna share from phone if WiFi is not available 😊 looking forward to this.

[@mechanicalmonk2020]

Wulff Den's ENTIRE review takes into account what the device was meant to be (and how miserably it fails at that).

[@BTMaverick707]

You mean for what it is lacking... from Bluetooth, Web browser, PS streaming

[@TheCommanderTaco]

​@mechanicalmonk2020 Jacob R also does a good job at that, and even how it was truly made with no self repair in mind. I would say the only true downfall for this device is that it does not offer a way to access a web browser so you can log into wi-fi's that require a portal sign in thus ruining the portable factor. At this point in time it's more a glorified Wii U lol. Also from Jacob R's video apparently if a game decides to start downloading an update that will also ruin your connection lol.

[@TheCommanderTaco]

​@@BTMaverick707terrible part is that it does have Bluetooth. Just not optimized / or running the proper standard so Sony can sell you on their expensive headset specifically made for the portal lol.

[@PSF1986]

My brother owns a PS5 & I'm a carer for my mum so its been so handy for me to pick up & play for an hour here & there

[@kurtisbased183]

hope your mum gets better!

[@Gavtoocold]

The biggest gripe I've heard that you hadn't mentioned was the lack of Web browser on this device. The hiccup being public Wifi sites that require you to sign in or agree to their terms. This absolutely killed it for me because my interest in this device stems from constant work out of town and nights in hotel rooms. Without being able to sign into hotel wifi through a browser this device is all but useless in my ideal situation 😮‍💨.

[@vurrx]

May not be ideal but you can sign in with your phone and share that network to the portal.

[@marc-andrebilodeau9541]

Maybe not ideal but you can use spoofing if you have a laptop.

[@Cani-Gulah]

I mean, if you're already traveling with a whole ps5 anyway, you dont need this device

[@Gavtoocold]

@@Cani-Gulah who's traveling with a massive PS5? The point of this is being able to game without needing it. I don't have room in my work vehicle for the huge ps5 and possibly a monitor.

[@Cani-Gulah]

@@Gavtoocold its remote play only. You would need to drag a console around to play it

[@josed.toledo6668]

Thank you for the honest review Jake, I would buy this on a heartbeat if it were a portable console but I have never been a fan of remote play. Great review guys, keep it up!

[@hubbabubba5177]

Genuinely curious, why haven't you picked up a steam deck?

[@awlgh9045]

@@hubbabubba5177reason I haven’t is because of the limited amount games accessible to it, waiting for more games to be optimized for it.

[@georgeatte788]

@@hubbabubba5177 I own PS5 and I'll purchase a steamdeck soon. The one MAJOR drawback is having to purchase all the games later or at least some. PS5 games i usually own on a disc which is only for PS5 use. It's an additional cost on top of having to buy a handheld. So I can see why not a lot would want to do that.

[@maximushernandez2583]

​@@hubbabubba5177the steam deck is more expensive. Does it have latency on it?

[@brotherbill919four]

Stay butthurt Nintendo switch fanboy 🤣

[@2hrsweekly922]

I love my portal, I got 3 kids that take up the tv, and when theyre in bed my wife watches. You absolutely nailed that this is for people that still want to game and not leave the room. Ive been able to finish Spiderman 2 with it...first time i finished a game in a long time.

[@vandalg282]

You're a simp if you can't take control of your tv and give your kids tablets. This is $200+ , backbones are free.

[@SkullBuds]

Calm down there guy some people are good dads

[@dr.sivavignesh664]

Why not get a monitor for 200?

[@TheCommanderTaco]

​@@dr.sivavignesh664depends on how much room he has available as well. You get a monitor and you need to set that up somewhere which then leads to getting a stand / desk. Maybe it's a small apartment or he just likes his couch better lol.

[@Pkilla1212]

​@vandalg282 how old are you? You sound like a pre teen 😅. People live different lives and find value for their situation.

[@Dopamine9481]

The PlayStation portal is something I didn't know I needed until I used it. I've been gaming way more since I've gotten it. There's something about laying in bed and playing my PS5 in my hands. Absolutely awesome.

[@SpikeTheWolf]

You could've done that already dude?

[@SovannT92]

with so many devices like your smartphone to stream and play ps5.. this portal thing is unnecessary

[@mechanicalmonk2020]

I've been doing this since 2014. In those 9 years Sony has not improved the core technology AT ALL. The portal was their one chance

[@Dopamine9481]

Just to add this is not the same as playing on your ipad/phone using a backbone. It feels totally different. It's not the same experience.

[@SpikeTheWolf]

@@Dopamine9481 you don't need a backbone...

[@juergitty]

personally love remote play, when i’m traveling, sitting at a coffee shop, hanging out on campus, remote play is a gem. was stoked about this but not being able to throw it in my bag is a bit of a negative to me. i throw my ipad in my bag and play that way and it’s perfect. might just stick with that

[@aaronwebb4543]

It's probably the same as having a controller plus Ipad in your bag

[@tfar2112]

This is definitely for a narrow audience but I think it is going to really hit the spot for certain people. I've been enjoying getting in some extra play time while my wife can watch whatever show she wants

[@nicktronson2977]

simp.

[@Guez_art]

Same here! it have become my "go-to" device.

[@redflame300]

by narrow you mean anyone who wants to play ps5 on the go?

[@iHeartOiSkanks]

Buy another tv

[@Guez_art]

@@iHeartOiSkanks lol, I’m sure living rooms look really nice with 2 TVs with 2 seperate pieces of furniture and maybe a second set of sofas lol

[@sicboy041]

I opted for the backbone (with my iPhone 15 pro) given the infrequency of playing remotely, but having that option available to me. Does the job. But if you’re going to be playing for long sessions and money isn’t too much of an object I can understand there’s an audience for this.

[@TheCommanderTaco]

Only problem ( as of now) with playing remotely is the portal does not have a web browser or option available to pull up some type of browser, so if a wi-fi signal ( hotel, fast food, airplane, etc) requires a portal sign in then you can't play remotely. Like this video stated ( which is probably also why Sony didn't release a carrying case for the device also) it's more for at home play or if you are visiting someone else who has a wifi signal you just need to input a password for.

[@gabswiss]

​@@TheCommanderTacoOh wow I knew bout no web browser but didn't think about not being able to connect on guest WiFis as most of them require web access like you mentioned. With no Bluetooth on top = no go for me 😢

[@guyfromnewark]

​@@TheCommanderTacouse your phone as a hotspot

[@masmelly6384]

Bro the backbone is better in my opinion you can play more games on ps remote play and even on your Xbox and steam and it only cost me 70 dollars on Black Friday I think the reason it’s sold out is because a lot of parents bought it and thought you didn’t need a ps5 I know jimmy is gonna be mad this Christmas 😂 😡

[@masmelly6384]

Steam decks are top tier tho

[@veespa_]

I have used this every single day since it came out for hours every day, it’s the only way I’ve played PS5 since it came out. I live with my dad as I chose to live with him in the last years of his life to appreciate my time with him, and we watch TV/movies together every night, and because of this I am able to play while spending time with him so, for me, it’s amazing. Totally understand those who don’t care for it, but for some of us out there it’s perfect.

[@mrdubtee1873]

Cheers to you and your dad, enjoy!

[@helloimspida9523]

you're the biggest chad on this comment section

[@rubend7241]

What games do you play? I ask because I stream GOW from my ps4 to the backbone and it lags. I want to plan my upgrade but am not willing to pay 200 bucks if most current games are lagging.

[@jonny-b4954]

So you're able to not actually watch tv with him and sit there playing games instead of actually TRULY spending time with him? Hahha, sounds like my grump parents who just ignore each other for hours on end on each of their tablets.

[@mysticmisfit777]

​@jonny-b4954 not everyone has to be like you Johnny.

[@football8897]

If this was more of a handheld console, this would be an immediate buy. The use case for me is just not there yet. If I was fighting over a tv with children or my wife I could see myself getting this. Right now it’s just not for me, I’m okay with that though. I hope they do a second iteration eventually when it becomes a need for me in the future

[@jthrock2491]

I agree completely. If they had made this a truly portable console, even for $300, it would be an immediate buy. This is cool for what it does, it just could have been so much more. Instead of competing with the switch or steamdeck, it only competes with your phone/backbone.

[@football8897]

@@jthrock2491 I hope this is them testing the water to see if this is still something the general public really cares about. It’d be cool to have a seamless transition for remote play, and also have full cross play from console to handheld. The thing that killed the vita was lack of support and lack of cross play. If I could seamlessly play uncharted, last of us and infamous on my ps3 and play it on my vita it would’ve been incredible. Instead they made dedicated games and then failed to continue to release them after launch.

[@slurp3194]

@@jthrock2491300 wouldnt work maybe 400 500 dollars for s solid portable system

[@elrico7877]

Agreed! I have more than one tv don’t need this…. I need a independent portable PS when the kids play. at this point I’ll just buy another ps5

[@brotherbill919four]

Well sony isn't going to make a ps vita 2 and it's a bad idea. Cope harder for the ps portal because you want sony to waste more resources to separate SKUs to sabotage their consoles and there is a reason why the vita is a failure. Deal with it kid hahaha

[@msilvino2]

Nice to see Jake this time around! Awesome video!

[@aaronhancock4375]

I love how honest these reviews are. I've got children myself but also work away aswell. Using the ps portal away from home is not the best but when at home and trying to get some game time in it works a dream

[@Karlach_]

so glad I never had kids

[@bakkejord14]

I use remote play between two different cities in Norway and its pretty good. Have no issues playing COD or Sackboy etc. Just make sure your connections are fast and stable at both ends.

[@adji69]

For a work around for the headphones, if your still in your home you can still use your headphones in the ps5 and get sound. Heard of another video.

[@seanstone250]

Thanks for this. I've been very curious about the portal.

[@giovlms]

7:20 I love how Jake is playing literally by a dumpster, like some dude taking a last sip of soda before throwing away the bottle

[@andyscoming4919]

No streaming, no bluetooth support, and no web browser. “Play has no limits.”

[@santanaflossy3016]

Maybe in the future it we have it

[@Nasarex]

10:37 that was slick, Jake. nice.

[@JadenRitz-yh2pk]

Love it, the into, the consistency. I’m all for trying new things and keeping things fresh but this intro in your voice (coming from a viewers perspective) lets me know I’m about to hear an opinion from someone who has gained my trust over years and not wasting my time, giving something of value. It’s weird to say and think about and I’m sure it makes ya feel weird with it being your own voice and such but literally it’s like a bell in my head, (the viewer), that my time isn’t going to be wasted, the type of info I’m getting, and from a perspective I respect. Keep it up man! Love the innovation in the channel and the face cam shots but don’t dump that into! It should be immortalized in gaming content history. God bless brotha!

[@waqaralikhan2281]

That looks cool, definately getting one, sometimes my kids are using the tv, this gives me a chance to go to the next room and catch up with my games 👍🏼👌🏻

[@MattStandley589]

I’m a dad gamer and this sounds like the exact device for me. My PS5 is on the main TV in the house. This will free up the TV for wife/kids and still give me a chance to play. 100% will be getting this when I can find it!

[@windycity5985]

This is exactly why I’ve been thinking about picking this up. Just became a dad recently and don’t have much time for the man cave with my pc. Been playing mostly ps5 in the living room when I can. Just easier to help the wife with the baby/ watch my son.

[@vayshah]

Can't you just stream on a laptop though

[@MattStandley589]

@@vayshah I'm not sure. I'm a simpleton when it comes to tech. I doubt my macbook would stream my PS5

[@thatdudechewy]

I can appreciate your POV and it not being for you, but you nailed it right on the head for who benefits most from this. I’ve had one a couple weeks and it’s incredible. No more moving the console around from room to room if I want to play and someone is using the TV. I can just fire up my Portal and get to gaming.

[@duba3839]

Very nice review. Thanks

[@ra0333]

It’s for me. Here’s my use case: I’m a dad of 2 young ones. There’s often a fight for screen time. Also, I don’t want to disappear to plays games by myself. I don’t have the patients to make remote play work. So the idea of a system that just works, has me excited.

[@charliebags69]

Patience *

[@JackJackson955]

​@@charliebags69I bet this comment was the highlight of your day.

[@ra0333]

@@charliebags69I wasn’t Russian

[@ra0333]

@@JackJackson955I deserved it

[@gabesstarwarscollection]

Hear me out, just buy a TV for $100? Or a second monitor of any kind?

[@blueeyedtech1234]

I played a majority of SpiderMan 2 using remote play. Remote play has gotten a lot better from when it started

[@lordjuju14]

With all niche use-cases considered, I was very close to pulling the trigger on this, but my biggest issue was not being able to cloud stream games with ps plus premium. If my PS4 & switch can do it, there’s no reason this can’t- even with required access to a PS5.

[@mmstick]

It's coming in a future system update

[@QwErTyEjBa]

​@mmstick is that officially confirmed? It does sound great

[@QwErTyEjBa]

​@@mmstickis that officially confirmed? It does sound great

[@MrJroman35]

I have to mention. I got this device and had a mixed bag of usability within my home network I was running google wifi mesh network the original. I upgraded recently to the google next wifi pro with 6E and I know the portal does not have 6E capability. But it is night and day now. It truly feels close to native anywhere around my house. So if you are running a Mesh or a network with the newest tech it will probably run well within your home.

[@SharpsPanda]

I just use my Steam Deck as my remote play for console games. Sure, it has a little bit of leg work to setup. But it's worth it just to have all options available to you.

[@laser1373]

You can get the PlayStation remote play app running on a steam deck?

[@runbaa9285]

@@laser1373 Sure you can. I don't see any reason why it can't.

[@mmstick]

@@laser1373You can't, nor can you get haptic feedback or adaptive triggers. It's limited to 2-3 hours battery life and an 800p 7" display. You have to use a third party app that has imprecise analog stick inputs. It's better used for playing games on Steam rather than PlayStation Remote Play.

[@army103]

@@laser1373 I don't have a Steam Deck, but there's a 3rd party android app called PSPlay that lets you use Remote Play with any controller you want. I've used it to stream PS4 games on my Retroid Pocket 3+ and using a no-name, $25 gamepad with my phone.

[@Coyote_85]

In all honsty, I think the price is quite steep for what it is. I was hoping for a bit more offline capability, like what the Vita had (had remote play PS4 and offline gaming). Would have been nice if you could install small indie games on it, like up to 20GB... That would be a game changer.

[@mullaoslo]

That's funny I think it's cheap for what it is 😂 if it had local storage it probably would be as expensive as the ps5 itself

[@Igor19485]

@@mullaoslo It's a streaming device in an essence, your experience depends on your internet connection and even then you will get some washed up resolutions and lag spikes here and there. I think the price is not cheap for what it is but also it's not expensive, It's just right I'd say

[@halfricansaint7727]

I agree to an extent but also understand that it’s a better Backbone. I paid $100 for my backbone so that I could play while my wife watches her shows on our sole TV. With how much more functionality this has than just an attachment to your phone, the price becomes understandable.

[@blindfire3167]

@@halfricansaint7727 I paid $15 for a controller plate to hold my phone and it works the same lol.

[@purplepineapple7893]

This is why ppl shouldn't look at this as a portable. You should only be looking at this as am alternate controller.

[@Jocaju3]

I really hope this is successful so the next version comes with more features like streaming directly from PS Plus or better yet, Sony decides to make a new standalone portable device again. Because If it doesn't sell well, we may never get another portable device.

[@markcvt1999]

I think you nailed it for who this geared towards. People like me who don’t always have access to the tv. I would love this instead of having to watch home alone again, which I’ve probably watched 30 times over the past week.

[@silvafox07]

Why not just get a steam deck?....

[@dirkdiggler7253]

​@@silvafox07maybe because it's 200-300$ more?

[@silvafox07]

@dirkdiggler7253 might as well. I mean, if you're on a strict budget, just use your phone . I use my Fold and it's decent

[@xTRUExiNsANiTYx]

This device (console? handheld? whatever) isn’t for me, but I do hope it sells well enough for Sony and PlayStation to consider really getting back into the handheld market. I LOVED my PSP as a kid, and there is absolutely a market for something similar waited to be tapped. The Vita was before it’s time, if it had released even a couple of years later where wireless connections and data plans were more prevalent I think it would’ve succeeded. As someone who travels a lot, I’ve seriously considered the Steam Deck or other competitors, but I haven’t pulled the trigger on one yet. I may do it soon, but I’m waiting on the day Sony announces a fully functional PSP equivalent. Maybe in 2025

[@undrwrldsk8fred]

TLDR

[@xTRUExiNsANiTYx]

@@undrwrldsk8fred if you can’t read just say that homie

[@brotherbill919four]

It just did sell well. The Nintendo switch fanboys are crying hard about it hahahaha

[@demetridouglas9019]

Gameranx is such a great channel I love the vids

[@gameranxTV]

thanks!

[@demetridouglas9019]

@@gameranxTV your welcome keep up the amazing work

[@BloodyyPenguin]

This is great for parents. I’ve been able to play my games while my kids are watching cartoons. I really enjoy this product.

[@gameranxTV]

👆🏻

[@Diego-oy6en]

How did you buy it? Resale?

[@prashanthpn]

Bought one as I didn't want to hog the TV all the time, and I absolutely love it! I went from playing an hour or so a week to picking this thing up multiple times a day. It lets me squeeze in a few mini sessions a day in between chores, I only play it home, so I've had no issues with latency. (I've been able to play Cyberpunk and GTAO with friends and had zero issues with latency :D) About three weeks in, unfortunately the left analog stick stopped responding, so now I need to send it back to get a replacement which might take 3 weeks as they are low on stock :/ Still highly recommend, just the comfort of gaming from different parts of the house in a handheld format and not having to hog the TV makes it worth it for me. If you want to game but "Can't find the time" with work and chores, this is worth every penny!

[@Mr.Beefy69]

What's your internet speed?

[@prashanthpn]

@@Mr.Beefy69 I have a 1 Gig line connected by lan to the console at home. But, I also paired it with my friend's console which had 200 something mbps and was able to use it fine. I did notice a little lag occasionally once in 15 mins or so for really fast scenes.

[@Kpopunites]

Awesome video and I definitely learned a lot. Maybe someone can answer some of my remaining questions: 1) can you access other apps like Netflix or KZbin? 2) we only have 1 ps5, if I were to turn the console on and log in and then my boyfriend were to log in as well, would I be able to play on the portal with my account while my boyfriend plays on the tv with his??? 3) Can you play online games? Like GTA V?

[@maxt.2224]

I will be honest the price is the main sticking point for me right now. I am one of those people with one tv that doesnt really get to use it a lot, i do work a afternoon shift so that helps, but it still isnt worth 200 for what it is. If the price does drop in the coming months it would be awesome to actually play my ps5 without waiting for an opportunity to use the tv. I do also have a switch so at least i can do some gaming during the day

[@eatmoremusic3650]

I’ve been waiting for the granx review on this, you guys have the most honest and informative gaming journalism platform out there and I appreciates that about you.

[@traviskroeg1856]

Are you able to stream games to it that are physical copies? Basically can I pop in a game to the PS5 and then pull out the Portal to play it in another room and such?

[@HeatherHolt]

I have a Steam Deck and having a handheld with a toddler running around is SO NICE bc I just can’t sit at my gaming pc when she’s awake. So I can see how this would be useful to many people. I will always suggest steam deck over any other handheld but I guess if this is just a remote play situation then that’s neat. Steam Deck has gyro which is so cool for aiming in FPS games.

[@jasminda2401]

Yeah, I have a Steam Deck and I love using it for remote play. Honestly, I'm obsessed with the dual sense controller tech, so for a second, I was tempted, but there's really no point for me when I have my Steam Deck. But if they make a second one that can store games locally, I'd be very interested in getting it.

[@YogiTheBearMan]

Plus the gyro can activate only when you’re touching the stick which makes a huge difference! So you can shift around on the couch or whatever without aiming all over the place. Love it

[@just_a_turtle_chad]

I feel bad for the parents that will buy this thinking it's a full fledged console.

[@matacurrei5665]

As a parent I'll buy it for me, but thank you for being so considerate

[@gameranxTV]

they need to watch our videos

[@airdrighmor1439]

Consumers aren't as uninformed as one might think.

[@Axtrudithorize]

​@@airdrighmor1439oh you would be surprised 😂

[@bretthake7713]

I said this on another video from someone else, and the comments went nuts saying they "deserve it" and it's good because that means cheap used Portals for sale... Super cool to see the community here isn't so spiteful and mean over nothing

[@243Abolerz]

I'm a dad and super stoked about it. Perfect for playing around the house while the kids are playing. Remote Play has always been awesome for me.

[@onebozo4u]

Thanks for the honest review

[@Midwestmikey]

I love this device, one of my favorite purchases this year

[@siddhant1304]

So if the stick drift happens here the whole device needs to be replaced?? Stick drift is still an issue with PS5 controllers and this is build on the same platform

[@djgcue]

I have a sick family member at home and I want to spend as much time with her as possible. The Playstation Portal allows me to play my PS5 games, mainly MLB The Show, while lying next to my loved one. Otherwise, if I wanted to play we would be in separate rooms. So yes, I'm so glad to have the Playstation Portal. For the most part, my streaming has been excellent with the PS5 connected directly to my AX11000 router and 500mbps internet speeds. Everyone has their use case for this device.

[@Cinetiste]

It is the best of reasons... A product is a tool and if it helps in what essentially matters in life, it serves its best purpose...

[@Raadryan]

I got this ps portal through target. It was saying I’d be able to get it delivered the weekend of launch then the day came and it changed to nov. 21- Dec 1st. As I was waiting the next week I got an update saying it was coming the next day after the week of launch so they probably resupplying faster than you think. Relief for some people I guess but it’s great for simple movement games (I barely touch it)

[@Blaircamp74]

I’m the gamer dad with family that takes over tv, but the Steam Deck with Chiaki serves this purpose for me already. This device does look nice and premium, but I wish it had some sort of direct connection to the PS5.

[@deadrickdoggett2614]

Listen. If you are like me, a dad gamer, that just wants to play on the go, this thing is a major W. Case and point, just got back from a true field test. I had the device across state on a family trip. Our cabin had reliable WiFi (500 Mbps) My PS5 on my home network is direct plugged into my upstairs router so we are good network wise (1G). We had a little lag initially, which is to be expected, I was on the other side of my state. I connected after a couple of minutes and every time afterwards, I was just fine. I played Spider Man 2, Hogwarts Legacy, and 2k with no issues.

[@e2rqey]

Why not get a Steam Deck or gaming laptop?

[@momomuerte]

As a casual gamer and dad, I love mine. Dont get me wrong, I love playing on my actual gaming monitor but it isnt always practical with a little one. Especially not being able to wear noise cancelling headphones and only focus in on a game until everyone is in bed. Youre exactly right about know what you are getting into when purchasing the portal. I can still play fps and anything else just fine. The pro gamer/streamers probably wont buy into this because it seems Playstation made this for those who love gaming for fun (not necessarily people whose whole livelihood is streaming, no offense to them) on top of making it easier to play games that were dropping $60 on. Its not necessarily made for people who crank on their systems settings and totally immerse themselves to have the best K/D ratio. I do look forward to eventually picking up some ear buds but those have a lot of versatility. Great video overall! Im also curious as to why they chose to not use BT. Youre probably right about the ecosystem idea.

[@momomuerte]

I forgot to add it'll be interesting to see what updates they roll out to enhance the portal in the future!

[@timrios4996]

This isn't just an accessory for gaming parents! My wife has a disability that makes her sensitive to flashing lights and loud noises, so this is a perfect way to accommodate for that when we are both on the couch and she needs a break from big screen TV. I've only been playing my PS5 on the Portal since it came out and I love it! Just finished Lies of P with no issues too. The Portal is still a niche accessory but I thought people should know about another use case for it.

[@JB-fr1my]

Feels cool seeing him say the intro

[@nycity4lyfe87]

The biggest design flaw in this thing is the analog sticks. What happens when one gets stick drift?…

[@altusshow7574]

Ooh, I never even thought about that. I'm interested in it but was going to wait a bit to see longer term reviews. That's now the top of the list of things I'll be searching for. Good catch!

[@K_FI_L_Y_P_S_O]

You saw a different controller in half and glue it on. Duh.

[@Igor19485]

I guess the same things that happens when Switch Lite has a stick drift

[@Karlach_]

It's only 200 bucks. Buy a new one.

[@Seth748]

This was my biggest concern day one. I'm surprised more people aren't talking about this as it's the biggest potential problem this device has.

[@JamaalSTL]

If you’re reading this.. just buy a backbone controller for half the price and stream it on your phone if you’re capable.

[@eddo8762]

I did. Waste of money personally. My average screen size phone (Samsung S21) means the games are quite small. The buttons on the Backbone is loud, very loud, is way too clicky and sticky, and the left stick and DPad being the "Xbox" layout means there is some getting used to, the shoulder buttons are also lower quality than what I really want. Also, the lack of dedicated PS button is a lot more annoying than I gave credit for. I really wanted to like it, but nah, experience is too much of a downgrade. Maybe other controller adapter is better, but I wouldn't recommend Backbone at all due to button quality. If all you want is the ability to play away from your TV, remote play via a computer or tablet and just pair with a spare Dualsense. To me is a far superior option; bigger screen, same controller feel, if you have an amazing screen, then all the better. I use a midrange tablet and is flawless.

[@julianmederos281]

Definitely lets me catch up on my back catalog of games. And when I get home from work I can play while laying down.

[@mostlyme2539]

Like you, Jake, I’ve never cared much for streaming games. However, I do like this device for some of the reasons you mentioned. I am married and I like that my wife doesn’t have to go use another television in the house when I’m playing a game. I haven’t had the opportunity to use it from another location but thanks for showing that it does work pretty well. I enjoy your videos….keep up the good work.

[@oubregang2x926]

I would love to get one but cloud gaming/streaming games isnt where it needs to be yet for consistent connection speeds you have to be in a certain spot in your home or wherever I wish technology would get to that point already

[@Otacon1105]

As someone who has a bad experience with it in the past, it’s waaaay better now. I think trying remote play using something lower cost of entry (backbones are on sale rn) and figuring out your home network is worth it. I use my ISP router with a wired extension for my master bedroom, and it works beautifully anywhere at home and even on 5G networks (laggier, but almost no shuttering and full 1080p)

[@Rynn21]

Yeah I even have a good router, and wifi is super spotty once it reaches the PS5. Pass.

[@theramennoodler7950]

@@Rynn21 That’s what I heard, even with good WiFi, streaming is still a downgrade.

[@YogiTheBearMan]

I agree it has gotten better but it’s still not good enough for a consistent experience across all game types. I’ll stick with my Wii U 😉 JK I don’t have one of those

[@DalazG]

One of the dumbest oversights for this is, sony refusing to have a built in web browser. They've essentially cancelled out public wifi sign ins

[@jonnX20]

Use your hotspot on your phone which is generally faster than most public wifi lol

[@MaoRatto]

This system was trash to begin with.

[@dorayaki5494]

@@jonnX20 Why not just your phone with a Backbone/Kishi/GameSir then? Cheaper and probably a better screen... Since most phones sport a 90-120hz OLEDs these days. Way better portability and better WiFi module for higher speeds on phones aswell. Plus you actually got Bluetooth working....

[@jonnX20]

@@dorayaki5494 because it's a dedicated device that's only a 100 bucks more than a backbone with haptic feedback and a much bigger screen that looks great. It's better than using your phone and a backbone in a million ways I've had mine since the 20th and I use it all the time

[@jonnX20]

@@dorayaki5494 honestly play however you want but being able to have my phone free plus all the perks of a bigger screen and the PS5 remote all in one thing it's great. But just like he said in the video its not for everyone but for me it's great I have a baby and a wife this lets me play my games and multitask and not have to wait for the TV to be free or to move my PS5 into my bedroom

[@howard9060]

My thing about this device is that I have a Steam Deck with Chiaki configured so I can remote from outside networks. Sure the Steam deck is twice the price and setting up Chiaki for remote play on a separate network is a whole process, but I get twice the function. For me, I already have this device and more in my Steam Deck.

[@justinellis8711]

Jake, this is why I listen to you. I am the same way. I'm good with having the games installed not streamed. I have solid internet and I'm okay without having it. It's not for me. All solid points 👏🏿

[@BoilingKoolaid]

I love mine. I play while the kids watch their stuff and even pulled it out the other day when my controller died and got to keep playing. I know there are things that could make it even better, but it does what I need right now.

[@gameranxTV]

👍🏼

[@caliguy44]

I was using ps5 remote play with the steam deck oled and it was pretty fun. Played ASTRO playroom using all the gyro and track pad features. It feels like playing a game on minimum hardware requirements. lol but still pretty fun. I see it as a quick session here and there but nothing beats playing natively.

[@rafaelrodrigues9260]

Yeah, this is for us, dad gamers and others with people around the house. I'm also getting one. The Bluetooth thing may be annoying, but the reason for that is latency, I'm sure in less then a year there will be Bluetooth compatible earphones, not that it matters for the ones that really care about audio (cause wired connections are the best for that)

[@Starwarsgeek-98]

Buy a retroid pocket 3+ instead for cheaper and same functionality in streaming.

[@TheBass16]

@@Starwarsgeek-98no, dork

[@Starwarsgeek-98]

@@TheBass16 go ahead and spend 500 bucks on a gimped tablet its your money.

[@TheBass16]

@@Starwarsgeek-98it’s only 200, big guy. If you can’t afford it maybe that’s a you problem

[@rossmookstable128]

Since linking my PS5 to my router using an ethernet cable, my experience playing the portal at home has been pretty smooth. We have one TV in the household. (no, I'm not tight it's just weird as I live with the gf and we don't have kids). I love how the Mrs can watch her shows whilst I play FC24 on the couch using the portal and still remain social. I've used Sony remote play on the ipad and the haptic were poor, the portal resolves that issue with a built in dual sense.

[@marcusnelson6707]

Wonder if the Portal is PlayStation testing the market on handhelds again and come back with a stand alone

[@josecruz-dk3mk]

I highly doubt it Playstation didn't like they had to split the team on handheld and home consoles but that's up in the air on that

[@jkidd7608]

What nobody seems to be understanding is that we’re at a point where people expect amazing graphics, high fps, and fast loading. If PlayStation built a dedicated handheld console, they’d probably be looking at something like $600. That directly takes sales away from their $500 console. People can’t seem to grasp how bad of a business move that would be. The Portal made a lot of sense and as somebody who has one, I can say it’s been infinitely better than using a phone for remote play.

[@Beer_Wolf]

Dubious market to break into... Nintendo has their branded market niche with the Switch, but mobile phones are becoming increasingly capable of doing games with PS4 graphics atm.

[@marcusnelson6707]

Essentially, if the product good enough you can have enough to buy both! I mean Apple has iPhone 15 pro and pro max iPhone 15 and 15 plus and always sell Same with the tablets... iPad 12.9 pro iPad 11 inch pro iPad Air iPad 9th gen iPad mini All do the same thing and Apple still sell

[@hulkman245]

Doubtful seeing as this isn't a handheld but a streaming device. This would be the dumbest way of testing that out

[@0Valencia1]

This thing is pretty dope especially for older games in my opinion would’ve been a home run if it at least had oled , better wifi and better latency for shooters but who knows maybe we will get a PS Portal Pro haha

[@le_fancy_squid]

PsPP

[@NERODIEM]

I’m an old gamer and this product is not for us. It’s garbage.

[@SrNuno-tl5kc]

I'm with you Jake, nice review 👍

[@felixen21]

Thanks for a good video! I have 3 questions: 1) Why not just use your phone/tablet and PS5 controller? Is performance better on the Portal? 2) Does it only work on your home network? So no traveling with it at all? 3) Do you need an insane mesh router to get a good performance? We have really fast wifi (which I don’t believe matters if it’s only local?) but our router is very standard and no mesh

[@CorporateZombi]

1) idk. I don't know how it could be much better unless it has dedicated decompression hardware. You are getting a bigger screen than a phone. Possibly more battery life, and it leaves your phone free for other things. 2) In the video he says he also tried playing using his home console from his office via (fast) internet. So I presume that is also possible? The portal would need to connect to a good WiFi signal. So I doubt a WiFi hotspot from a phone would have the bandwidth, and would maybe introduce too much latency? Plus it would eat a lot of data. 3) Fast WiFi (6) would matter for local streaming (preferably in the same room with line of sight) . Fast internet wouldn't matter so much if you are playing local.

[@felixen21]

@@CorporateZombi appreciate your reply! Those are some good points

[@abd0ne]

Finally, an honest and objective review. Thanks. I love mine and you hit all the points. Lack of Bluetooth is a bummer but I’m using my pulse wired to it, not really an issue, love em anyways.

[@kevinvcj1022]

Have you considered the fact that a ''review'' is inherently subjective?

[@Daphoid]

For people / familys that share a single TV (or any amount of TV's where they can't always play when they want) - this is who this is for. If you're fortunate enough to sit in your room and play uninterrupted by yourself, remember that you're fortunate and not everyone is.

[@yienmaster04]

My problem is my wife and daughter want to be using the PS5 when they're on the TV, so this thing is useless for me. I'd just have to get a 2nd PS5 or something. Got a Steam Deck OLED instead, and it's amazing.

[@blickedxb]

This is for people that they know will spend the two hundred bucks because of the logo on the back of it. Half of the people in here glorifying this thing would be talking shit about it if it had a round logo with an X on the back of it. 🤣

[@gabiruman]

That would be true if the remote play worked with no issues, not the case. Might as well use your tablet or phone and you don't have to spend 200$. So this thing is just for people who don't know better.

[@JoJoZaka]

if you have a ps5 and the disposable income for a remote play device, you're very very fortunate

[@vancevance6864]

@blickedxb this was very eloquently said, thank you! I dont get why xbox gets the hate they get, for things that others do worse. Could you imagine if xbox didn't have day 1 game pass releases, then one day just stopped giving you monthly free games, then raised the price of the online membership which they force you to pay in order to play online multiplayer even though none of their first party game has online multiplayer? People would have a field day

[@XeroCreator]

The best part about this video is your shirt and that INSANE MGS cabinet I'm in love with. Pls take pics of that :o Edit: I'll wait for the OLED model, for handhelds it's so nice....

[@joshuapayawal3324]

Last or first I still wait for your Before you buy videos before buying anything game-related. Love gameranx!

[@drewsears2959]

For some reason playing a backlog of older games (uncharted 1-3, finishing control and some other games) feels like a grind and a “waste of time” when I can play a great current game. I’m really interested to see how getting this will make me want to finish older games I didn’t finish. I know the logic doesn’t make any sense, but it makes sense to me. Lol

[@thedarkprinceiv]

Bro you are not alone lol I’m currently playing one my games I’ve had on back catalogue and I’ve bn in and out of it but for some reason playing it on this device is a great time killer

[@wasabisushi128kb]

For me this would scratch the itch, like you said, to just do something in a Like a Dragon type game. Something turn based that doesn't require a lot of attention. I'm intrigued, but still very much on the fence.

[@alanniduenas4573]

i got a busy house so i dont get much gaming-on-tv unless it's late at night. i would only play COD or BF since it was late and i didnt want to do long missions in a RPG. Now i can use the portal when the tv is in use and be able to play wtv game i like. So now i get best of both worlds. less intense RPGs during the day/afternoon on the portal (and i dont have to worry about input lag) and then if i want, twitch shooters at night on the TV.

[@AG2COOL]

I got mines launch day and i absolutely love for when im on the go and going places where i have to wait or visiting family for a few days. Most definitely not ment for multiplayer games more so single player games which is fine with me since i play a lot of single player games.

[@alexproboi]

Out of all the accessories of the PS5, including the media remote, pulse headset, (old and new gens) psvr2 and the new earbuds and ps5 slim, this is the most useful accessory to me. I'm looking forward to buying it over in 🇨🇿 Czech Republic since it releases there on the 12.1.24 which is the soonest I can get it since in Israel 🇮🇱 they still didn't release it and I live there

[@airdrighmor1439]

I use mine every day. Its fantastic. I have 3 kids, and one tv. Now I can chill with my kids and game. And its so much better than a backbone, and its only $200. That's not expensive at all.

[@SilenKillGamer]

You live in the suburbs don't you

[@Ryan-tn4gk]

Well you say it's not expensive but you can literally do the same with a dual sense you have and a $10 phone clip. So it's definitely expensive

[@PublicDudeBaby]

It's expensive for what you are getting

[@airdrighmor1439]

@@Ryan-tn4gk and it's miles better than a clunky phone and clip. Better, bigger screen. Dedicated device. frees up my phone for calls. Doesn't eat up the battery.

[@airdrighmor1439]

@@SilenKillGamer nah, just old and know the value of money. $200 was a lot 20 years ago. It doesn't buy much today.

[@liamleech4748]

My brother in law got one and besides input being delayed during online games, it looks and runs single player games really well with no input lag. Gta v ran good with the graphics all the way up.

[@duderilreez]

My eye sight ain’t the best so I’m glad they came out with this. I don’t have to get super close to my tv anymore. I can game more relaxed now 🙌🏽 was thinking about backbone but this hits the cake for me! Love that duel sense

[@mart2077]

Can't wait for mine.....need it yesterday 😅

[@notmephisto1375]

While I wouldn't use this to play big AAA games it would be very chill for smaller in-between games. My biggest issue with it is the price. That's just not worth $200 for me.

[@ishotudropdead]

Mw3 is a blast on the portal

[@skylers1144]

Sony has a very specific audience for this, and $200 is actually not that bad. It's cheaper than other pc hand held or a second phone/tablet just for remote play purposes.

[@mmstick]

I've been playing Ghost of Tsushima, Lords of the Fallen, Demon's Souls, Remnant II, Trepang2, and Star Ocean Second Story R on mine. I've seen others playing Final Fantasy 16 and Spider Man 2. Why wouldn't you play AAA games on it? They look and play fantastic on the 1080p display in the Portal. Low-fi games may have better experiences on handhelds than on TVs, but AAA games look great on the display the Portal has. I'm hoping the Switch 2 has this model of IPS screen as the vividness of colors is the same as OLED.

[@ishotudropdead]

@@mmstick is the portal an ips LCD? Or is it an LED ips ? Is there a way to find out ? I’m sure it’s not just an ordinary LCD for how good it looks .

[@tubanesoup]

I would totally buy a stand-alone handheld from Sony, but as someone who has a very nice TV to game with, this just didn't interest me enough to spend $200

[@gameranxTV]

👍🏼

[@uasakura]

7:30 lol, i can sense alot of family tension by doing that

[@jacobduhthrowbak3226]

One day when the internet infrastructure is better then maybe streaming will be more practical. This one isn't for me personally right now but I can see the appeal especially for older gamers who share a TV with the fam.

[@brennenjohnson7577]

Guys- I don’t even play games too often but as a gamer dad, this thing is AWESOME. Sure there’s limitations (that’s why it’s only $199) but feels great, plays great and the screen is honestly solid for 1080

[@javiercotto1201]

You can use your Sony pulse headphones wirelessly with the portal,tried the other day and worked great so you really don't need the new headphones that are coming out if you don't want too

[@Yo_mama-yx2tn]

It has no Bluetooth, huge omission imo, too many flaws with this product

[@javiercotto1201]

I would've wanted Bluetooth also but with my pulse headphones I can still get wireless capability without buying another set of headphones

[@apatel8419]

Is the pulse connected to the ps5 or the portal itself ?

[@aiidankhan]

if someone wants to buy the playstation portal, by all means do it then. but i’m having a hard time understanding the point and innovation in this thing. 1) if i want to play games on my console when i can directly play on it, i fire up the free app on my phone or laptop and boom i’m in. AND i still have the comfort of the dualsense. and honestly, if someone needed a viable, high quality to play their ps5 is the tv is being used by something else, i’m sure they found a solution long before this handheld (“handheld”?) was released. it’s a little frustrating cause sony put all this effort into this device when they could have made a true, stand alone handheld

[@KOOLAID5922]

I love it as my console is in the room and sometimes i like to sit out in the living room and talk to my wife while she watches her shows

[@eddo8762]

The big problem with this is existing options. A Backbone or similar can already do it, but I guess what they are lacking is a controller that feels like DualSense; and PS5 games are made for a TV, whereas phone screens are just not big enough. The other option is remote play via a tablet/laptop using a DualSense controller; this option is my preferred but obviously you aren't in handheld mode; if you already have a high end laptop/tablet with an amazing screen, then this option to me seems much better than Portal. Portal makes sense if you want a big screen as a handheld, niche. But it still interest me because a large screen on a handheld is great for my living situation.

[@cassolmedia]

or if you have a nice laptop BUT aren't using windows/mac, like me.

[@mmstick]

None of these are as good as owning a Portal with official PlayStation Remote Play support, full DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and a 1080p 8" display with OLED-like color vividness. The Backbone is uncomfortable to hold with an adult hand as there's no grip and sticks are in an awkward location. It also doesn't support PlayStation Remote Play, so you need a third party app which has imprecise analog stick mapping. Using the DualSense controller with a laptop is incredibly uncomfortable. The point of a handheld is that you can play games from any angle and carry it anywhere. I can lay on my back on the sofa or bed, or use it from the toilet.

[@nickcollins5315]

I agree man I use my iPad with my controller works just fine

[@Dracossaint]

Or any other handheld that has chiaki or remote play. Chiaki4deck is my go to for it

[@bryanb1103]

Finally GR's opinion on the Portal, the only opinion I care about!

[@patrickm8344]

Two things real quick: first is don’t ever feel like the intro is getting annoying or old. It’s become a welcoming sound of trustable knowledge. Second. I don’t care if you guys are months late. You have become the staple and only voice to listen to for reviews. Love how you even will critique each other. And just know you guys are THEE staple for gaming reviews and info. Keep it up

[@STEELCURTAIN719]

So to play this away from home, you have to have your PS5 on? What about in rest mode? Does it have to be on on?

[@Patrick-bn5rp]

Ya know... I'd actually like this thing if I could expand the storage and sideload android apps. Could be fun to play ps1 and psp games on. Just saying.

[@malikon6953]

RIP all the parents buying this for Xmas for kids that don't have a PS5

[@severalkorveks138]

That's why I respect your reviews the most

[@jeffreylopez2375]

You can give hotspot from your cel and work to use out your house or only play in your house?