Sony Announces the US$200 PlayStation Portal Handheld Gaming Device

[TheLostSwede]

Back in May Sony officially revealed what was then known as Project Q, its first streaming only handheld gaming device. Since then, there have been multiple rumours about the specs and what the device will deliver and now, Sony has finally decided to launch the device as the PlayStation Portal. However, it appears that Sony is still keeping things under wraps, as not much new was announced in terms of the actual specs of the device, although we now know that the 8-inch, 1080p60 display is a touch display and it can act as a virtual touchpad. Other details that Sony shared in today's announcement was that the device will feature a 3.5 mm headset jack. With a US$199.99 MSRP it might end up being a popular accessory though, as Sony is asking for far less than the rumours suggested the PlayStation Portal would cost.

Sony also unveiled a pair of new headsets for the PS5, the Pulse Elite and the Pulse Explore. The latter was shown back in May. What was not known back then, was that Sony will be adding a new wireless audio specification to the PS5 called PlayStation Link. This will require a new USB dongle that ships with the headsets and can apparently also be used with PCs and Macs in a rather unusual move for Sony. PlayStation Link is said to be a low latency and lossless wireless audio solution, but the good news is that both headsets also support Bluetooth connectivity and can connect to a PlayStation Link dongle and a Bluetooth device simultaneously. Both the the Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore will feature planar magnetic drivers, which is a not common in gaming headset and even less so for earbuds like this. The Pulse Elite has a US$149.99 MSRP and the Pulse Explore will retail for US$199.99 when they launch later this year.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Audeze and Kingston both have made gaming headsets with plannar magnetic drivers although the Kingston was basically just a rebranded Audeze headset.

 

[Space Lynx]

no OLED = you no get my money

 

[TheLostSwede]

Audeze and Kingston both have made gaming headsets with plannar magnetic drivers although the Kingston was basically just a rebranded Audeze headset.

Right, I forgot about that. Updated the post accordingly.

 

[cvaldes]

no OLED = you no get my money

OLED will come a year later with a $100 upcharge.

This is a companion device, not a standalone base device, so more like an accessory. Sony needs to make their fat gross margins off of these!

 

[AsRock]

Audeze and Kingston both have made gaming headsets with plannar magnetic drivers although the Kingston was basically just a rebranded Audeze headset.

Little interested as seen as i like the tweeters infinity did back in the 80's ( still own some ), need much more info though.

Typo edit

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

So this portable device DOESN'T render anything natively, right? It just receives a stream from the user's PS5? So it can only be used while connected to the same network as the user's PS5? Meaning that you can only use it around your house?

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Little interested as seen as i liked the tweeters infinity did back in the 80's ( still own some ), need much more info though.

I own the Kingston version I think they are absolutely fantastic but like with anything audio is very personal preference even down to how the headset fits your head, ear shape etc.

They are a little heavier than the majority of gaming headsets I've tried which could also be a deal breaker for some.

 

[Solaris17]

So this portable device DOESN'T render anything natively, right? It just receives a stream from the user's PS5? So it can only be used while connected to the same network as the user's PS5? Meaning that you can only use it around your house?

Yes from my understanding

 

[Frick]

So this portable device DOESN'T render anything natively, right? It just receives a stream from the user's PS5? So it can only be used while connected to the same network as the user's PS5? Meaning that you can only use it around your house?

Yeah this is it. It's a local PS5 streaming device, which is ... not that interesting honestly.

"PlayStation Portal is the perfect device for gamers in households where they might need to share their living room TV or simply want to play PS5 games in another room of the house. PlayStation Portal will connect remotely to your PS5 over Wi-Fi**, so you’ll be able to swiftly jump from playing on your PS5 to your PlayStation Portal. PlayStation Portal can play supported games that are installed on your PS5 console and use the Dualsense controller."

"**Requires broadband internet Wi-Fi with at least 5Mbps for use. For a better play experience, a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended."

PlayStation’s first Remote Play dedicated device, PlayStation Portal remote player, to launch starting Nov 15 at $199.99

Pulse Explore wireless earbuds and new Pulse Elite wireless headset revealed; features lossless, low latency audio using new PlayStation Link technology.

blog.playstation.com

 

[Chomiq]

Meh, I have no need for that.

 

[SCP-001]

All that R&D for a glorified android tablet. I wish Sony didn't get burned with the Vita and continued to make their handhelds. Oh well....

 

[FeelinFroggy]

This is just a casting device? Surely Sony has something up it's sleeve for the portable market. They have done very well in the past with their handheld console and with the massive success of the Switch and the Steam Deck, you'd think they'd want their IP to get a piece of that market.

I'm not a console guy, but I'd probably buy a handheld for travel and I'd get a chance to play the Sony only games.

 

[LabRat 891]

Is it x86, and is it hackable?

Wait... All this is, is a Sony Shield? A handheld LAN streaming device?

I'm underwhelmed.

 

[Dragokar]

As I told before, the Klostation aka toilet/bathroom station is coming.......

 

[ZoneDymo]

their headphones always look like heavy form over function

 

[Space Lynx]

All that R&D for a glorified android tablet. I wish Sony didn't get burned with the Vita and continued to make their handhelds. Oh well....

Sony isn't the Sony we remember. Best to close that chapter of your life and move on, I did and am better off for it.

 

[Steevo]

Steam already does this for my Samsung TV and supports cheap wired or wireless controllers plugged into the TV

 

[Deleted member 229121]

This could be very worth it for a kid and/or parents.
EG console is in the living room, but TV is being used by someone else etc.

As I told before, the Klostation aka toilet/bathroom station is coming.......

The Poop Deck?

 

[SCP-001]

Sony isn't the Sony we remember. Best to close that chapter of your life and move on, I did and am better off for it.

I know I know, All my hope that Sony would somewhat return to that market died as soon as this got teased back in April. I just wanted one final dream lol.

 

[Pooch]

that astro character looks really uninspired and dumb, and a little too unisex for my liking. assuming they want to attract people in some way with cute graphics and loveable characters, this aint it.

 

[bonehead123]

that astro character looks really uninspired and dumb, and a little too unisex for my liking. assuming they want to attract people in some way with cute graphics and loveable characters, this aint it.

Well, it's NOT "unisex".... it's "he/she/they/them/us but-can't-decide-what-I-wannabe" compliant, which is the market segment they're trying to appeal to, like almost everything nowadayz....hehehe

 

[Gmr_Chick]

So this portable device DOESN'T render anything natively, right? It just receives a stream from the user's PS5? So it can only be used while connected to the same network as the user's PS5? Meaning that you can only use it around your house?

Gonna be honest, I actually thought this was going to be a dedicated handheld like the PSP and Vita. But now that more details are out for this thing, I'm....seriously underwhelmed.

Calling it now: People will buy this thing, thinking it's a portable PS5, only to find out that they can only use it around their house alongside their actual PS5. In short, this thing is already DOA.

 

[LabRat 891]

Calling it now: People will buy this thing, thinking it's a portable PS5, only to find out that they can only use it around their house alongside their actual PS5. In short, this thing is already DOA.

Agreed. Unless Sony gets creative, there's probably going to be some blowback towards a 'tethered' device.

I wonder if it could be used easily on a friend's PS5?
Maybe, potentially marketable as a sort of WiiU-like dedicated screen-troller.
IDK 'bout folks today, but I'd have paid a fraction of a console's price, just to have my own controller and screen for split-screen games.

Then again, most consumers willing to shell out $200 for a new Sony PlayStation thingy, might be willing to shell out for a PS5 too. Esp. parents 'appeasing' kids...
I could see a company today, actually 'running the numbers' on such.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Agreed. Unless Sony gets creative, there's probably going to be some blowback towards a 'tethered' device.

I wonder if it could be used easily on a friend's PS5?
Maybe, potentially marketable as a sort of WiiU-like dedicated screen-troller.
IDK 'bout folks today, but I'd have paid a fraction of a console's price, just to have my own controller and screen for split-screen games.

Then again, most consumers willing to shell out $200 for a new Sony PlayStation thingy, might be willing to shell out for a PS5 too. Esp. parents 'appeasing' kids...
I could see a company today, actually 'running the numbers' on such.

I'm guessing there will be a huge warning on the box requires a ps5 to function.