Published on Athmaus:
Original video:
Topics: Gaming & Tech
Tags: Historical Import, PlayStation, PlayStation Portal, remote play
My wife surprised me with the PlayStation Portal for our wedding anniversary. My first video, originally posted November 16, 2023, shows me trying the device at my desk, connecting, playing briefly, and returning to the PlayStation menu.
This is my original hands-on experience, not a new test of every feature available today. I had a positive first experience, but the useful details are what happened during that actual session.
What happened when I connected
At the start, I’m holding the Portal with the screen dark. The display then moves through the connection screen before the game appears. Later in the clip I return to the PlayStation interface, so the recording shows both gameplay and menu navigation rather than only a powered-on product shot.
The gameplay includes movement through a city and changes in viewpoint as I use the controls. That gives a concrete example of a game running through the setup I was trying. It does not provide a measured input-delay result, resolution comparison, or a record of connection reliability over a full evening.
Holding it and using the controls
I hold the grips on either side of the display with my thumbs on the controls, then tilt the device during the demonstration. The screen stays between the two controller-shaped sides, so I can look at the game and use the sticks without a separate phone mount or controller sitting elsewhere on the desk.
That dedicated screen-and-controls arrangement is what appealed to me. I liked having another way to access my PlayStation games without using the television as my screen. This short first look does not establish how comfortable I would find it after several uninterrupted hours.
What this first look does not establish
I did not record a controlled network comparison, Wi-Fi distance test, battery rundown, or charging-speed measurement in this video. I’m not adding a router model, internet speed, exact latency figure, or long-term reliability result that the session does not document.
The original experience was built around streaming, rather than running ordinary PlayStation games locally on the Portal. Features and service options can change, so check Sony’s current requirements for the way you intend to play. My November 2023 recording should not be read as a current test of later services.
My takeaway
This was a welcome anniversary surprise and a positive first try for me. The clip shows the connection completing, gameplay, and navigation back to the PlayStation menu. Those are the concrete results behind my first impressions, with the limits of a short session kept clear.
Watch my original video
Originally posted November 16, 2023.