The PlayStation Portal, Sony's innovative handheld gaming accessory for the PS5, has never been discounted when new, but you can now snag a great deal on a used one. Amazon Resale, formerly known as Amazon Warehouse, currently offers Used: Like New condition PS Portals for just $148, shipped. This is a significant 26% off the original retail price of $199. While a Sony warranty may not be included, Amazon Resale items come with the same 30-day return policy as new purchases. Given the popularity, we anticipate these units will sell out quickly.
Update: The price has now dropped to $150.23, marking the lowest price we've seen for a Used: Like New unit.
PlayStation Portal (Used: Like New) for $148
--------------------------------------------Make sure to select the "Save with Used - Like New" option
The PlayStation Portal resembles an extended split-pad DualSense controller with an 8-inch 1080p LCD screen nestled in the middle. It transforms your PS5 into a portable gaming device by streaming games from your console at up to 60fps. The controller retains the DualSense's signature features such as haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a touchscreen that substitutes for the DualSense's touchpad. The Portal can stream games even when you're away from home, provided you have a stable, fast internet connection. However, it's important to remember that the PS Portal is not a standalone device; it's a remote player for the PlayStation 5, requiring a PS5 to function.
Excitingly, you no longer need a PS5 to enjoy games on the PS Portal. Sony has introduced a feature allowing Portal owners to stream games directly from its PlayStation Now cloud streaming service. This means you can connect the Portal to either your PS5 or Sony's cloud servers, thanks to recent quality of life beta updates launched in April. By opting for cloud streaming, you gain access to over 120 games, including titles like Ghost of Tsushima, Resident Evil 3 Remake, The Last of Us Part 1 Remastered, and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Note that you need to subscribe to the highest tier of PlayStation Plus, which costs $18 per month, a much more affordable option than purchasing a PS5 and additional games.
While the PlayStation Portal offers a unique way to stream PS5 games over Wi-Fi within your home, you can achieve similar functionality by using the PS Remote Play app on a mobile device or other gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck. However, this alternative setup is more complex and lacks some of the DualSense's distinctive features.
PlayStation Portal Review by Seth Macy
"The PlayStation Portal is the most surprising device I've ever come away from loving after going in loaded with skepticism. It's such a better experience than using your phone with a slap-on controller, and it works so much better than I was anticipating. I really love the freedom it gives me to play my PS5 from anywhere with decent WiFi coverage, especially when the rest of my family was using the TV to (somewhat ironically) play the Switch. Bearing in mind that it’s in no way a stand-alone device and 100% requires a PlayStation 5 to function at all, the biggest things keeping the Portal from being a truly amazing device are its current lack of a way to access WiFi that requires a web browser to log in, and its lack of Bluetooth support for audio. For now, it's a great device that represents the best current solution for PlayStation Remote Play, and if it weren't for those two baffling caveats, I'd call this a must-own device for every PS5 owner who enjoys playing games on handheld – or has to compete for the household TV."
