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Playstation Portal reviews

Killjoy-NL

Member
To be fair, I can see myself playing the portal when the footy is on. Anything to lower the despair of watching Man U at the moment. 😂
Lol sure, but I meant with the tv on the PS5 channel as well.

I don't consider the tv as being available if you want to watch sports.
 
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TrebleShot

Member
Had alot of time with mine yesterday and was really impressed with the hardware, one thing though is im getting slight stuttering every so often which isnt ideal, anyone else? any solutions?

5ghz wifi
1gb up and down
 

PaintTinJr

Member
Is this a problem with your set up?

Seems others are not having this issue
Maybe, but unlikely IMO, unless an edge case

My Broadband includes the optimised for gaming addon too and is able to download between 2 -5 MBytes per second on my PS5 via 5Ghz wifi at a consistency that can max out the ISP connection through my Router OS based Router and ISP router working in modem mode when trivially downloading 100GB patches. My router is massive overkill for home broadband IMO.


My experience is consistent with my RemotePlay experiences I've had in the past with PSP/PSVita/laptop with PS3/PS4/PS5 and is operating in an identical network environment to my WiiU/tablet controller which plays like local play on high frame-rate, and rapid full scene image changes.

The main differences hampering the experience of my PS remoteplay compared to WiiU are probably all at PlayStation's end in the UK with the heartbeat between console and PSN being required and a bottleneck, and the setup requiring remoteplay access the PS5 indirectly through the router, and the added bandwidth needed for 1080p.

EFootball (PES) is also going to be significantly more gruelling than most games, because of the very nature of traffic it generates and with little options for the game to predict frames for pre-rendering and sending. Against the AI a decent player might be providing 5-10 pad inputs a second, and to be able to out witt the AI the player needs to remain unpredictable to catch the AI input reading cheating out, has to switch play when the AI is locked in an animation sequence, so switching the play and causing rapid scene changes is natural in a PES game, like every 5-10 seconds, which is probably a similar cadence of the game glitching visually.

It still completely playable, as has remoteplay been since the PSP and PS3, as in I'm still playing reasonably well at above Normal difficulty, but sadly it is a poor comparison to the flawless WiiU tablet experience for me and only mildly superior in network experience to my previous uses of PS remoteplay, even if the turnkey solution via integrated Dualsense and excellent screen take it up enough, that on balance its well worth my time as I'm still get more time to play, which is a net gain, and hopefully the experience improves to close the gap on the WiiU tablet experience.
 
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midnightAI

Member
Had alot of time with mine yesterday and was really impressed with the hardware, one thing though is im getting slight stuttering every so often which isnt ideal, anyone else? any solutions?

5ghz wifi
1gb up and down
Well your internet connection speed shouldn't come into it if you are local. However, one thing I made sure of was that UPnP is turned on on the router and that the devices (PS5 and Portal) are using it.

One test is to connect Remote Play using your phone, if that says it's connecting via internet instead of via the network then I think it's then not using UPnP. My only other issue was my PS5 on 2.4ghz, but that doesn't sound like your problem.
 

Nankatsu

Gold Member
Already ordered a protector for the screen and a temporary back case for it on Amazon, but I feel options are still rather scarse.

Chinese companies are getting lazy.
 
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midnightAI

Member
Maybe, but unlikely IMO, unless an edge case

My Broadband includes the optimised for gaming addon too and is able to download between 2 -5 MBytes per second on my PS5 via 5Ghz wifi at a consistency that can max out the ISP connection through my Router OS based Router and ISP router working in modem mode when trivially downloading 100GB patches. My router is massive overkill for home broadband IMO.


My experience is consistent with my RemotePlay experiences I've had in the past with PSP/PSVita/laptop with PS3/PS4/PS5 and is operating in an identical network environment to my WiiU/tablet controller which plays like local play on high frame-rate, and rapid full scene image changes.

The main differences hampering the experience of my PS remoteplay compared to WiiU are probably all at PlayStation's end in the UK with the heartbeat between console and PSN being required and a bottleneck, and the setup requiring remoteplay access the PS5 indirectly through the router, and the added bandwidth needed for 1080p.

EFootball (PES) is also going to be significantly more gruelling than most games, because of the very nature of traffic it generates and with little options for the game to predict frames for pre-rendering and sending. Against the AI a decent player might be providing 5-10 pad inputs a second, and to be able to out witt the AI the player needs to remain unpredictable to and catch the AI input reading cheating out, has to switch play when the AI is locked in an animation sequence, so switching the play and causing rapid scene changes is natural in a PES game, like every 5-10 seconds, which is probably a similar cadence of the game glitching visually.

It still completely playable, as has remoteplay been since the PSP and PS3, as in I'm still playing reasonably well at above Normal difficulty, but sadly it is a poor comparison to the flawless WiiU tablet experience for me and only mildly superior in network experience to my previous uses of PS remoteplay, even if the turnkey solution via integrated Dualsense and excellent screen take it up enough, that on balance its well worth my time as I'm still get more time to play, which is a net gain, and hopefully the experience improves to close the gap on the WiiU tablet experience.
You shouldn't compare it to WiiU, that uses direct connection, it doesn't go over your network like the Portal, it does this so that it can be played anywhere in your network or via internet. WiiU had a range of around 8 meters with no obstructions, Portal range should work anywhere in your network so long as you have strong signal.

I'd say theoretically Sony could offer direct connection via software updates, but then as soon as you go out of range of the PS5 even if you are still within your network then it would disconnect. Still should be possible though.
 
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TrebleShot

Member
Well your internet connection speed shouldn't come into it if you are local. However, one thing I made sure of was that UPnP is turned on on the router and that the devices (PS5 and Portal) are using it.

One test is to connect Remote Play using your phone, if that says it's connecting via internet instead of via the network then I think it's then not using UPnP. My only other issue was my PS5 on 2.4ghz, but that doesn't sound like your problem.
Hmmm yeah, ill give it a go im pretty sure its activated on both devices definitely enabled on the router, i was wondering if it was something to do with VRR on the PS5? i have it forced on
 

PaintTinJr

Member
You shouldn't compare it to WiiU, that uses direct connection, it doesn't go over your network like the Portal, it does this so that it can be played anywhere in your network or via internet. WiiU had a range of around 8 meters with no obstructions, Portal range should work anywhere in your network so long as you have strong signal.

I'd say theoretically Sony could offer direct connection via software updates, but then as soon as you go out of range of the PS5 even if you are still within your network then it would disconnect. Still should be possible though.
I'm only comparing the experience for it to fulfil its primary purpose of offscreen play - which it shares with the WiiU tablet controller -and my usage is in the same ranges as the WiiU - with direct line of sight from console to router, portal to router/console just like the WiiU did. In fact the WiiU works better upstairs with console in the lounge - which is at its use limits in our house - than the Portal does in the lounge near the console for me, as a point of comparison.
 

64bitbros

Member
Have been playing this whole last evening. It works almost flawlessly. Ps5 is wired, and have a TP-link Deco M9 mesh through the house. 3 units, all wired.
Most single player games run without a hitch. Don't notice any lag. Spidey 2 worked fine. As did Horizon FW. I saw that vid on Twitter from the Tom's Guide guy, Nick Pino. Works faultless on my end. Something is up with that. The 3-loud-Ps5-Slim-in-a-small-cabinet guy is probably his nephew eh? I also tried D4, which worked very well. Until i tried a World Boss that is. Once its started the streaming side still worked, but the server side was laggy. That could be a coincidence, or it could be d4 network code and the streaming getting in each others way. I don't know. Will have to test more.

The biggest win for me though, other than that the device just works, is that it is very comfortable. Most handhelds give me numb pinky and ring finger after a while. The Portal did not.
 
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mako

Member
Had alot of time with mine yesterday and was really impressed with the hardware, one thing though is im getting slight stuttering every so often which isnt ideal, anyone else? any solutions?

5ghz wifi
1gb up and down

Channel 36 for the 5GHz network
40MHz channel width

There may be better guidance from people who do wireless VR but these settings are working well for me so far.
 
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FrankWza

Member
Most of you will use this for a month tops and then stop using it like the PSVR 2.
Are You Mad John David Washington GIF by NETFLIX
 

Red5

Member
Would you be ok with a Fiat car being reviewed and the reviewer listing as one of the cons: "it doesn't accelerate as fast as a BMW"? Because this is this kind of argument here.

Yes? Because a lot of people don't follow tech news 24/7. Two of my coworkers thought it was a cheap PS5 portable and wanted to buy them for their kids, needless to say they changed their minds once they found out it needs a PS5 to connect to.
 
How does it work without an OS ?
It has to boot somehow and you have to set it up to use it, don't you?

That's my point the OS is just for basic tasks. Then you just launch the software to remote play from your PS5

It doesn't support DRM from streaming services at all so it can't decrypt the DRM or HDCP protection from the streaming services... You would get a black screen anyway...

Netflix on mobile devices requires Android/iOS/Linux
 

Giallo Corsa

Gold Member
Yes? Because a lot of people don't follow tech news 24/7. Two of my coworkers thought it was a cheap PS5 portable and wanted to buy them for their kids, needless to say they changed their minds once they found out it needs a PS5 to connect to.

(Cheap) PS5 portable...for 200 bucks, i mean, some basic common sense is always needed, when the basic console costs 500, i don't know how anyone would expect a smaller device with the same tech/insides plus a screen to cost almost 1/3 less than that - it's the complete opposite, always.

i'd also like a 30K Ducati Panigale V4S for 10K Eurodollars 'cause that sounds like a better deal than 30K, Jesus Christ...

Do these co-workers also have an Xbox or PS5 ? let me guess, they'd also whine when they learn that the consoles have to be online to be able to access their respective stores or, that you actually have to pay for games/subscriptions ?
I can only imagine what your "co-workers" would think about PC handhelds like the Rog Ally/Steam Deck/Lenovo and their respective prices ;)

You don't have to follow tech news 24/7, just some basic, common sense - and this has nothing to do with the Portal, more like with people' stupidity generally speaking.
 
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Kupfer

Member
That's my point the OS is just for basic tasks. Then you just launch the software to remote play from your PS5

It doesn't support DRM from streaming services at all so it can't decrypt the DRM or HDCP protection from the streaming services... You would get a black screen anyway...

Netflix on mobile devices requires Android/iOS/Linux
I just hope people will figure out how to hack this and run some basic homebrew stuff besides gamestreaming only.
 

DosGamer

Member
I ordered one from Gamestop when they popped up around midnight on the 15th. My order is still processing. I would even try to get one in brick and mortar as I could give the extra one to my nephew as a christmas present... but I dont see any stores with stock around me. Crazy!
 

Gambit2483

Member
I wonder if Sony will announce sales numbers or any kind of announcement regarding sales performances, restocking, etc. They went completely radio silent after dropping VR2.
 

LordBritish

Member
anyone try it in a hotel or airport yet? just curious without a browser built in getting on their wifi would work or if at all...
 

Red5

Member
(Cheap) PS5 portable...for 200 bucks, i mean, some basic common sense is always needed, when the basic console costs 500, i don't know how anyone would expect a smaller device with the same tech/insides plus a screen to cost almost 1/3 less than that - it's the complete opposite, always.

i'd also like a 30K Ducati Panigale V4S for 10K Eurodollars 'cause that sounds like a better deal than 30K, Jesus Christ...

Do these co-workers also have an Xbox or PS5 ? let me guess, they'd also whine when they learn that the consoles have to be online to be able to access their respective stores or, that you actually have to pay for games/subscriptions ?
I can only imagine what your "co-workers" would think about PC handhelds like the Rog Ally/Steam Deck/Lenovo and their respective prices ;)

You don't have to follow tech news 24/7, just some basic, common sense - and this has nothing to do with the Portal, more like with people' stupidity generally speaking.

Nope, most people I work with don't even know what the word graphics means and what the difference between console generation are. These are your average customers, old parents who want the cheapest gifts for their kids.
 
Just saw ETA Prime's video on this and it's damning. He did the exact same kind of test that I would do personally (with slow motion video) and the lag is unacceptable. I shan't be buying this.

IMO this is a total failure on Sony's part to not invest into their remote play stack to reduce this lag. I am fairly sensitive to lag, but I can stream from my PC via Moonlight or Parsec to many different devices or Virtual Desktop on Pico 4 all day playing all kinds of games without any issue. If other companies and open source can do it, Sony should absolutely have a better streaming technology when they're selling a device that only does that one thing.

It is an awful, terrible, shit-smelling turd of a streaming stack and is the worst possible advertisement for their cloud-streaming service when they can't even get local streaming working. The incompetence is mindboggling.
 
Well I've already added an hour or so to my game time throughout the day, and that was just yesterday after work.
I've been playing FF7R, and had almost zero hiccups. They were so slight that if I didn't know I was streaming, and wasn't on the lookout for them, I probably wouldn't even notice.
 
anyone try it in a hotel or airport yet? just curious without a browser built in getting on their wifi would work or if at all...
In those situations you gotta contact their IT and give them your MAC address for them to hardcode it.
I'll just be using my phone as a hotspot in those situations, with the 5G UW. I've used remote play at a car dealership before having the portal, and my hotspot worked better than their wifi.
 
Just saw ETA Prime's video on this and it's damning. He did the exact same kind of test that I would do personally (with slow motion video) and the lag is unacceptable. I shan't be buying this.

IMO this is a total failure on Sony's part to not invest into their remote play stack to reduce this lag. I am fairly sensitive to lag, but I can stream from my PC via Moonlight or Parsec to many different devices or Virtual Desktop on Pico 4 all day playing all kinds of games without any issue. If other companies and open source can do it, Sony should absolutely have a better streaming technology when they're selling a device that only does that one thing.

It is an awful, terrible, shit-smelling turd of a streaming stack and is the worst possible advertisement for their cloud-streaming service when they can't even get local streaming working. The incompetence is mindboggling.

Oh The Drama GIF by MOODMAN


That video is not really damning, lol. Also, I played mine plenty yesterday and it's no where near bad.
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
Just saw ETA Prime's video on this and it's damning. He did the exact same kind of test that I would do personally (with slow motion video) and the lag is unacceptable. I shan't be buying this.

IMO this is a total failure on Sony's part to not invest into their remote play stack to reduce this lag. I am fairly sensitive to lag, but I can stream from my PC via Moonlight or Parsec to many different devices or Virtual Desktop on Pico 4 all day playing all kinds of games without any issue. If other companies and open source can do it, Sony should absolutely have a better streaming technology when they're selling a device that only does that one thing.

It is an awful, terrible, shit-smelling turd of a streaming stack and is the worst possible advertisement for their cloud-streaming service when they can't even get local streaming working. The incompetence is mindboggling.
Dude i tried this on my ipad yesterday and it’s fine. If there was any lag i didn’t notice it.
 

Boss Man

Member
Network:
Cable 250 down/10 up
Google Mesh
PS5 hardwired

My impression so far:

Device:
It feels like playing with a PS5 controller. Screen is the perfect size. Setup was effortless. Unlike most, I actually really like the barebones operating system. The “portal” animation for connecting is cool. Biggest gripe is lack of bluetooth, but I didn’t consider that you can actually still use your PS5 headphones connected directly to the PS5 for audio.

Gameplay:
It’s remote play. There’s no quality improvement here. I certainly perceive an input delay when paying attention but in most games I only notice it occasionally while engrossed in the game. Played a session of BG3 last night and it was totally serviceable. I could play the whole game this way. Image quality was worse than I expected it to be.


I would say that you should try using remote play on a different device before purchasing. If you can tolerate remote play, the portal is a super sleek and comfortable device for it. I enjoyed hanging out in the living room and playing BG3 without using the TV. If you’ve ever played your Nintendo Switch off of the dock while at home, that’s what this is for.
 
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64bitbros

Member
Just saw ETA Prime's video on this and it's damning. He did the exact same kind of test that I would do personally (with slow motion video) and the lag is unacceptable. I shan't be buying this.

IMO this is a total failure on Sony's part to not invest into their remote play stack to reduce this lag. I am fairly sensitive to lag, but I can stream from my PC via Moonlight or Parsec to many different devices or Virtual Desktop on Pico 4 all day playing all kinds of games without any issue. If other companies and open source can do it, Sony should absolutely have a better streaming technology when they're selling a device that only does that one thing.

It is an awful, terrible, shit-smelling turd of a streaming stack and is the worst possible advertisement for their cloud-streaming service when they can't even get local streaming working. The incompetence is mindboggling.
Compared to a 1ms monitor? Are you gonna play on that? Most tv's don't have that kind of latency.
 
You shouldn't compare it to WiiU, that uses direct connection, it doesn't go over your network like the Portal, it does this so that it can be played anywhere in your network or via internet. WiiU had a range of around 8 meters with no obstructions, Portal range should work anywhere in your network so long as you have strong signal.

I'd say theoretically Sony could offer direct connection via software updates, but then as soon as you go out of range of the PS5 even if you are still within your network then it would disconnect. Still should be possible though.
I would love it if in 2028 when the PS6 hits the market it would come with a PS Portal 2 with a direct connection to the PS6.
 
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Topher

Gold Member
Just saw ETA Prime's video on this and it's damning. He did the exact same kind of test that I would do personally (with slow motion video) and the lag is unacceptable. I shan't be buying this.

IMO this is a total failure on Sony's part to not invest into their remote play stack to reduce this lag. I am fairly sensitive to lag, but I can stream from my PC via Moonlight or Parsec to many different devices or Virtual Desktop on Pico 4 all day playing all kinds of games without any issue. If other companies and open source can do it, Sony should absolutely have a better streaming technology when they're selling a device that only does that one thing.

It is an awful, terrible, shit-smelling turd of a streaming stack and is the worst possible advertisement for their cloud-streaming service when they can't even get local streaming working. The incompetence is mindboggling.

Eh.....I just watched the video and it is far from "damning". Yes, he does point out the latency, but he also says this is streaming so it is to be expected. Either way, it isn't like he trashes the device or anything.

 

Killjoy-NL

Member
Sony needs a solution to HDR, or lack thereof, on Portal while HDR on PS5 is turned on.

Colors are off if enabled and you have to first go to the PS5-menu to turn it off, as the screen settings aren't accessible during Remote Play.

Minor annoyance.
 
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Cyberpunkd

Member
Nope, most people I work with don't even know what the word graphics means and what the difference between console generation are. These are your average customers, old parents who want the cheapest gifts for their kids.
I’m sure board games are like $20-30.
 
People are DESPERATE for it to fail and be shit, it’s actually a brilliant little device been doing the weekly’s on GT7 in between work etc beautiful
I'm not desperate for anything to fail, from my perspective it just seems weird that this exist in this capacity. It really is an Wifi streaming handheld. There's plenty of great examples of them from others that do more. I'd rather have had a new PSP/Vita/Etc. on offer than such a niche device with not much practical use.
 
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HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
What a piece of crap this is. It does give Xbox fanboys something to make fun of Sony about. I'm happy for them in that regard.
Make fun over a $200 accessory that lets me play games on the go over my phones hotspot (worked really well in my trucks hotspot while wife ran into the store) and I have my dualsense features?

If that makes you happy you need some enrichment in your life
 
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