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The Portal isn\u2019t the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck killer some thought it might be, but it remains a handy tool for gamers who can\u2019t play on their primary TV or just want the ability to enjoy games throughout their home. If you\u2019re not already caught up on what it is, it\u2019s essentially an eight-inch 1080p LCD display that\u2019s sandwiched between two halves of a standard DualSense controller, meaning it features adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and all the perks of Sony\u2019s latest gamepad. Its main (and only) purpose is to stream games via Remote Play, which requires a PS5 and reliable Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
We love what the Portal enables, but some curious technical choices can get in the way of your fun. For example, since wireless audio relies on Sony\u2019s proprietary Link protocol, you can only use the\u00a0Pulse Explore earbuds<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Pulse Elite headset<\/a> with it (sorry, no Bluetooth earbuds allowed). Thankfully, it has a 3.5mm audio jack for using a pair of wired headphones, assuming you still have a pair lying around.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Additionally, you may run into trouble if your network performance isn\u2019t strong. The latency can make the experience utterly unenjoyable, and we certainly wouldn\u2019t recommend trying multiplayer games or fighting titles where precision is paramount. We\u2019ve found it much better when the console is connected via ethernet, however, which is almost mandatory for stable gameplay outside the home. We\u2019re hoping Sony can eventually improve on these pain points with future software updates, but even with the aforementioned caveats, the Portal remains the best all-in-one solution for streaming games via Remote Play.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n