Summary
ThePlayStation Portalhas received a new firmware update that finally allows the remote player to connect to a broader range of public Wi-Fi networks. This rectifies a big complaint that cropped up after the last software update for thePlayStation Portal, wherein it could only connect to 2.4GHz public Wi-Fi bands.
When it was announced in 2023, the Portal reignited hopes among PlayStation fans who wanted Sony to re-enter the handheld console space, which has accrued a lot of player interest in the past few years thanks to theNintendo Switch and Steam Deck. Sadly, the PlayStation Portal’s sole functionality as a Remote Play accessory for the PlayStation 5 rendered it entirely unable to play games natively, putting a dampener on the dedicated handheld hopes (at least for now). However, many players who purchased the Portal for its advertised capabilities ended up loving it, as they could remotely play their PS5 games anywhere.
The PlayStation Portal’s lack of a web browser made connecting to public Wi-Fi networks a somewhat tedious process. Thankfully, theJune 2024 firmware update for the PlayStation Portalallowed users to connect to a public Wi-Fi network using their mobile phone’s web browser, but it was soon discovered that it can only connect to slower 2.4GHz bands, which may not provide optimal speeds for remote play. To address these complaints, Sony rolled out Update 3.0.1 for the PlayStation Portal on July 25, which expands public Wi-Fi connectivity to “certain” 5GHz networks as well.
The latest software update for the PlayStation Portal doesn’t include much beyond connectivity for 5GHz public Wi-Fi bands, but the inclusion is still welcome as the handheld requires a stable internet connection to work as intended.Portal users on Redditare already reporting more stable connections on their devices, which is a step in the right direction as far as portable functionality goes. With regularupdates improving the PlayStation Portal’s image qualityand connectivity, it’ll be interesting to see how Sony intends to enhance its utility even further in the future.
For now, theunexpectedly successful PlayStation Portalcan only be used for PS5 Remote Play, but a logical step forward for the device would be the addition of PS5 cloud streaming. Sony has even alluded to this feature being in the works for the PlayStation Portal, but it might be a ways off.
PlayStation Portal
While not exactly a PSP successor, the PlayStation Portal solves an age-old issue of having to share one TV in a household. This remote play device allows users to stream whatever is happening on their PlayStation 5’s directly to the large 8-inch 1080p LCD screen. What makes the PlayStation Portal unique is that it comes packed with all the advanced technology of the DualSense wireless controller, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. One downside is that it doesn’t feature Bluetooth support for wireless audio, but it does work with the PlayStation Pulse earbuds and headset, while also sporting a 3.5mm audio jack for wired audio.
