PlayStation Portal and PULSE Explore Review: Great Haptics and Battery Life, but No Media Apps or Account Switching

The PlayStation Portal remote player delivers a solid Remote Play experience, with DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that you will not get in another device. It does have real limitations, though: no media apps, no account switching while you play, and a connection that depends on a stable home Wi-Fi setup. At the time I wrote this, the Portal had only just released. PlayStation sponsored this review and sent me both the Portal and the PULSE Explore wireless earbuds to try out.

Below I cover what the Portal does, where it shines, where it falls short, how the PULSE Explore earbuds hold up, and how the Portal performed when my brother played on it from four rooms away.

The PlayStation Portal puts your PS5 on an 8 inch full HD screen over home Wi-Fi

The PlayStation Portal is a handheld that lets you play your PS5 console over your home Wi-Fi network, with console quality gameplay and controls. That setup lets you make the most of your gaming time, whether you are diving into your favourite games or, like me, trying to catch up on your backlog.

The DualSense controller's features come with it, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games, which offer an awesome level of immersion. I love the DualSense for exactly those two features. As I see it, "it basically takes everything you love about the PS5 and brings it with you wherever you go." The 8 inch full HD screen can deliver up to 60 FPS, so you can take in the detail of your favourite games wherever you are, as long as you have a stable Wi-Fi connection.

The PULSE Explore earbuds connect to the Portal through PlayStation Link

Alongside the Portal, PlayStation also brought out the PULSE Explore wireless earbuds, aimed at both home and on the go use. They connect to the Portal using PlayStation Link technology, which is designed to deliver lifelike, fast wireless audio.

The earbuds have integrated microphones with AI powered noise rejection, meant to keep communication clear with friends and teammates. They offer up to 5 hours of battery life, and the included charging case adds another 10 hours of playtime. They also work with a range of devices: PS5, PC and Mac via PlayStation Link, and phones and tablets via Bluetooth. The PULSE Explore earbuds released on December 6, 2023.

DualSense haptics on the Portal were the feature I was not expecting

In use, the Portal keeps a stable connection as long as you are in range, and gameplay is smooth, giving an almost seamless transition from playing on the console to playing on the handheld. In my opinion, one of the best features is the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller that is essentially built into the device. All of those tactile sensations make portable play more immersive, and that is something you will not get in another device.

Honestly, I was not expecting this. When I booted up Alan Wake 2 with the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers enabled, it was awesome to experience. "It really is incredible that this Tech is available in a Remote Play device," and major props to PlayStation for making it possible. Because it is essentially a DualSense, it feels familiar and really comfortable, and different from the regular handheld controls on competing devices.

A bright screen, no overheating, strong battery life and a lower price

The Portal's screen is large and well lit, which makes it ideal for gaming in basically any environment, and the display quality means you will not miss the finer details. Its ability to stay cool during extended sessions has been super awesome. Unlike some other handhelds on the market, you do not have to worry about overheating, because the Portal does not really do any of the computing. It is a remote player.

For the same reason, the battery life is super impressive, so you can enjoy longer sessions on a single charge. The Portal is also more affordable than some of the other gaming handhelds out there, and there are not many others that let you play high quality PlayStation games without breaking the bank.

No media apps and no account switching are among the Portal's shortcomings

While the Portal succeeds in a lot of ways, it has shortcomings. It cannot play films or shows or run other media apps, which makes it a dedicated gaming device. At the time, I really hoped PlayStation would look into adding this, because I would love to use it as a media device too. If you are on the go and want to use YouTube, you should be able to do it on your Portal, so maybe they would add that down the line.

Another notable drawback is that you cannot change your PlayStation account while you are actively playing. That can be frustrating if you have multiple accounts like I do. I have bought games on multiple accounts, so whichever account holds the game you want to play has to have offline sharing enabled before you can play it on the Portal. The Portal also cannot connect external devices, which limits its versatility beyond Remote Play.

Downloading a game on your PS5 can make the Portal's connection spotty

One thing to consider: if you start downloading a game on your PS5 while playing on the Portal, the connection gets a bit spotty. It is best to start the download and then log off the Portal until the download finishes. Once it is done, the connection stabilises and works perfectly well.

Here is what happened to me. I was on the Portal up in the living room and started downloading Gran Turismo 7 for my brother to play. Right after the download began, the connection got pretty spotty, but as soon as it finished, everything stabilised and worked as normal. So if your connection is spotty even though you are at home with perfect Wi-Fi, check that your PlayStation is not downloading games.

The PULSE Explore earbuds are pricey but became my first choice for gaming

These premium earbuds are somewhat pricey, but they offer incredible sound quality with crisp highs and deep bass, which makes them perfect for gaming. The battery life is solid, which matters for extended sessions, and the high quality charging case adds to the premium experience. They quickly became my first choice for gaming earbuds, and I highly recommend them, especially if you are considering the Portal.

They also offer great noise cancellation, so when you are out and about you can stay focused on your game without hearing everything around you. Obviously you can get similar quality from other peripherals, but I really commend PlayStation for creating a solid product that is easy to use, and pairing them with the Portal is very easy.

Gran Turismo 7 on the Portal barely looked like Remote Play

My brother played Gran Turismo 7 on the Portal, and the quality was really solid. It basically did not look like it was running on a remote player over Wi-Fi, even though it was. When I asked my brother about the experience, he said everything was smooth and he did not feel much latency, though it was sometimes noticeable. It really depends on which game you play.

That matched my own experience. There are some visual hiccups, especially when you first boot into a game, and, as I said above, the connection gets unstable when the home PS5 is downloading. But whenever the visual quality dropped a little, the frame rate usually stayed the same. My brother also played some God of War Ragnarök and a bit of Alan Wake, which all played great.

The Portal's range has a limit, and the yellow connection error tells you when

My brother was upstairs in my mom's office, about four rooms away from the PS5 and the router. The Portal does have a distance cap on Wi-Fi, so you cannot go super far away. You need a stable Wi-Fi connection to your PS5 and router to have an enjoyable experience.

You will know when you have hit the limit. The yellow connection error is totally normal and means you do not have a stable connection, usually because you are too far away.

Verdict: a cost effective Remote Play option for PS5 players

The PlayStation Portal and the PULSE Explore earbuds are fantastic additions to Remote Play and gaming audio, with haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and an immersive display. The Portal has limitations, including its exclusive focus on Remote Play and its restrictions on account switching, but it remains a cost effective and compelling option for PS5 players on the go. If you are looking for a dedicated Remote Play solution, "this device is a worthy investment in my opinion."

Would media apps like YouTube make the PlayStation Portal a must have for you, or is a dedicated gaming handheld exactly what you want?