Sony PlayStation Portal launched in India for handheld PS5 gaming

Sony announced the PlayStation Portal in international markets about a year ago, and now, the handheld gaming console finally comes to India. The PlayStation Portal will allow users to play games from their PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Slim in a handheld form factor.

While it may sound a lot like the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) from back in the day, there is a major difference between the two consoles which were launched nearly two decades apart. Here’s all you need to know about the PlayStation Portal, including the good, the bad and the ugly.

What is the PlayStation Portal?

The Sony PlayStation Portal is a handheld gaming console. However, unlike standalone handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally, the PlayStation Portal is more of an extension of the PS5 or PS5 Slim.

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This means it only works if you already have a PlayStation 5, and once your main console and the Portal are linked over the same Wi-Fi network, the Portal will be able to carry over your games from the PS5 in a 1080p avatar.

To facilitate this, the PlayStation Portal comes with an 8-inch LCD 1080p panel that can refresh at up to 60fps. Its controls are also shaped like the Sony DualSense controller on either side, making it look like a display sandwiched between a DualSense controller. This also means you get all the cool DualSense features including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

Now this extension approach of the PlayStation Portal comes with some pros and cons. The positives include not needing to buy games separately for the Portal, or worrying about storage space, since your games are technically streamed from the main PS5 console.

The trade-offs include being chained to your home Wi-Fi network, which basically means the PlayStation Portal cannot be carried outside your home as a standalone gaming device. It will be useful only on say, your couch or your bed in a different room from where your PlayStation 5 is set up.

PlayStation Portal: Pricing and availability

The Sony PlayStation Portal is priced at Rs 18,990 in India, and will be available on Croma.com and other retailers from this weekend. It also launches in a single white colourway that matches the PS5’s colours.