The PlayStation Portal is a novel system. Designed to present you distant entry to your PS5, it’s a robust streaming gadget that permits you to take your favourite video games with you whereas away from the massive display. Equipped with an enormous 8-inch LCD display and able to taking part in video games at 60fps in 1080p, it’s probably the greatest methods to remotely entry your PS5 video games.
However, PlayStation Portal isn’t good. For one, some customers have famous that its efficiency is lower than stellar when used exterior your private home community. You can also’t retailer video games on it, with the system meant to remotely stream titles out of your PS5. And, as you’d count on from one thing referred to as the PlayStation Portal, it’ll solely allow you to entry PlayStation video games with no choices to play titles on PC, Xbox, or different platforms.
Here’s a take a look at the 5 greatest PlayStation Portal alternate options in 2024. These run the gamut from streaming gadgets to handheld PCs, and all of them are nice choices for gaming away out of your TV. Best of all, many provide entry to catalogs past PS5, making them extra versatile than Sony’s Portal.
The greatest PlayStation Portal alternate options in 2024
Buy the Logitech G Cloud for the most effective total PlayStation Portal various.
Buy the Razer Edge for a premium 5G gaming setup.
Buy the Backbone One Controller for an reasonably priced various.
Buy the Steam Deck for a handheld PC various to PS5 gaming.
Buy the ROG Ally if need entry to PC video games past your Steam library.
Logitech G Cloud
The greatest total PlayStation Portal various
Logitech
Pros
Cons
Supports a number of cloud gaming platforms
No 5G or 4G assist
Sleek, ergonomic design
PS Remote Play isn’t good
Vibrant 7-inch show
The Logitech G Cloud is a robust streaming handheld, permitting you to entry a wide range of platforms corresponding to GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. You’ll additionally get entry to PS Remote Play by way of the Google Play retailer, although you’ll have to mess with some key mapping options to get it working correctly.
Most handhelds don’t even provide assist for PS Remote Play, so whereas it’s not as flawless as PlayStation Portal, it’s nice to have the choice to entry your PS5 by means of the G Cloud. Along with apps for a lot of the massive recreation streaming platforms, the G Cloud helps you to play commonplace Android cellular video games, making it surprisingly versatile for its value.
Coupled with as much as 12 hours of battery life, a light-weight design that clocks in at lower than 500 grams, and Wi-Fi connectivity that maxes out at 800 Mbps, and also you’ve received a handheld system that’s good for lengthy gaming periods. It lacks 5G and doesn’t provide as a lot assist for PS5 because the first-party Portal, nevertheless it’s a fantastic various — particularly for those who plan to entry video games past the PlayStation catalog.
Specifications
Support for PS Remote Play
Partial (Requires DualSense)
Wireless connection
Wi-Fi
Screen measurement
7-inches (1080p)
Razer Edge
The greatest premium 5G gaming system
Digital Trends
Pros
Cons
Premium construct high quality
Expensive
5G assist
Noisy fan
Impressive {hardware}
Coming from Razer, it’s no shock that the Edge is a premium, upscale system. It’s constructed to assist a number of recreation streaming platforms, together with PS Remote Play — although you’ll wish to pair it with a DualSense controller for full assist.
The Razer Edge is offered in each Wi-Fi and 5G codecs. The 5G mannequin is the higher of the 2, supplying you with entry to lightning-fast speeds no matter the place you roam. It’s costly, however most clients will discover it to be considerably extra helpful than its Wi-Fi counterpart. Regardless of which mannequin you decide, you’ll must put up with a loud fan throughout intense gaming periods.
That’s about the one knock on what’s in any other case a well-rounded product. With {hardware} that ought to stream most video games with ease, a vibrant AMOLED show, and assist for as much as 144Hz refresh charges, it’s a premium handheld for players who need the most effective streaming expertise potential.
Specifications
Support for PS Remote Play
Partial (Requires DualSense)
Wireless connection
Wi-Fi or 5G
Screen measurement
6.8-inch (2880×1080 decision)
Backbone One Controller
The greatest reasonably priced PlayStation Portal various
Backbone
Pros
Cons
Affordable
Requires a smartphone
Portable design
Models for each Android and iOS
Looking for one thing a bit extra reasonably priced? Then you may cease your search with the Backbone One. Clocking in at round $100, the Backbone One connects to your smartphone and primarily turns it right into a game-streaming system.
What makes the Backbone One so nice for PS Remote Play is that its detected as a DualSense controller. This means you received’t must fiddle with further key mapping or connecting an precise DualSense to your telephone. Just join the Backbone One, launch the Remote Play app, and also you’re prepared to start out gaming.
You’ll discover codecs that assist most Android and iOS gadgets, together with just a few completely different shade palettes. It’s not as fancy as another PlayStation Portal alternate options — in spite of everything, it’s primarily only a cellular controller — however the truth that it’s detected as a DualSense is an enormous win for PS5 followers trying to take their recreation on the street.
Specifications
Support for PS Remote Play
Yes
Wireless connection
N/A (Connects to telephone by way of USB or Lightning port)
Screen measurement
N/A
Steam Deck
The greatest handheld gaming PC
Valve
Pros
Cons
Native assist for Steam
Designed particularly for Steam
Multiple accessible fashions
Entry degree mannequin is lackluster
Ergonomic design
The Steam Deck received’t allow you to entry PS Remote Play with out some severe workarounds, however for those who’re in search of the most effective handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck is it. Available with a wide range of specs and beginning at $349, it’s best for people who don’t thoughts leaving the PS5 ecosystem and taking part in PC video games as an alternative.
With an non-obligatory OLED show, as much as 1TB SSD, and sufficient {hardware} to run nearly all of video games on Steam with out breaking a sweat, Steam Deck is the best companion for cellular gaming. Instead of streaming video games like PlayStation Portal, it shops them domestically — that means you may play them with no want for a quick web connection.
The greatest disadvantage to Steam Deck? It’s designed solely for Steam. That means you’ll have to tinker with its software program to realize entry to different platforms. But for those who’re one of many thousands and thousands of PC players with an ever-growing backlog of Steam video games, contemplate giving it a glance as an alternative of selecting up the Portal.
Specifications
Support for PS Remote Play
No
Wireless connection
Wi-Fi
Screen measurement
Up to 7.4-inches (1280×800)
ROG Ally
The greatest handheld console for personalisation
Asus
Pros
Cons
Runs on Windows 11
Expensive
Access to a number of streaming platforms
Not good for PS Remote Play
Impressive {hardware}
Like Steam Deck, the ASUS ROG Ally is a handheld PC. But not like Steam Deck, it runs on Windows 11 — permitting you to entry PC video games past Steam. That makes it interesting to anybody interested by accessing video games exterior of Valve’s ecosystem or utilizing it to browse the net.
Since the Ally is basically a Windows 11 PC, you may customise it to your coronary heart’s content material. You may even get PS Remote Play working on it, although you’ll seemingly wish to obtain further software program to get it working flawlessly with the Ally’s controls.
Beyond streaming video games, the Ally is an entire gaming rig. Its {hardware} is highly effective sufficient to deal with video games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dying Light 2, making it a severe competitor for not simply PlayStation Portal, but in addition price range gaming laptops.
Specifications
Support for PS Remote Play
Partial (Requires a workaround)
Wireless connection
Wi-Fi
Screen measurement
7-inches (1080p)
How we selected the most effective PlayStation Portal alternate options
There are loads of handheld gaming techniques to select from, however not all of them are rivals to the PlayStation Portal. Here’s a take a look at the components we thought-about when looking for alternate options to the Portal.
Functionality and highly effective specs
While a lot of the above picks allow you to entry your PS5 remotely, others are designed to be totally useful handheld PCs. Regardless of what video games they assist, PlayStation Portal alternate options have to have spectacular {hardware} and be able to easily streaming video games or working them immediately off their built-in SSD.
Style and ergonomics
If a tool isn’t snug to carry or causes discomfort after only a few minutes of gaming, it’s not an excellent product. The above record is designed with ergonomics in thoughts, guaranteeing you keep snug throughout lengthy play periods. Along with consolation, the 5 handhelds above are trendy and simple on the eyes.
Pricing
Handheld techniques aren’t low-cost — however some are clearly overpriced. Finding merchandise with {hardware} that matches their value is vital and ensures you’re not overpaying merely due to the brand on the again.
Ease of use
Playing video games on the street shouldn’t be a problem. Products that make it straightforward to entry your video games or navigate your library are most popular over ones which might be convoluted and bury your titles behind pointless menu screens.
This article is managed and created individually from the Digital Trends Editorial crew.
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