Updated 4 Nov 2026
Is the Sony PlayStation Portal Remote Player worth it?
Only if you own a PS5 and have strong Wi-Fi.
It streams games from your PS5 over Wi-Fi to an 8-inch 1080p screen held between two halves of a DualSense controller, with the haptics and adaptive triggers. Since November 2025 it can also stream some games from the cloud without a PS5, but only with PlayStation Plus Premium. It plays nothing on its own, so on weak or busy Wi-Fi the picture breaks up, and it has no Bluetooth for wireless earbuds other than Sony's own. Battery lasts six to eight hours.
90%of 545 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Big 8-inch screen with full DualSense controls
- Six to eight hours of battery
- Streams from your PS5 or the cloud
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What owners say
Owners love playing while someone else has the TV, the sharp screen and, since late 2025, cloud games without a PS5; children love it. The main complaint is lag and dropouts unless the Wi-Fi is very strong.
Good to know
- It runs no games on its own: it needs your PS5 or a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription.
- On weak or crowded Wi-Fi the picture stutters or drops out.
- No Bluetooth: only wired headphones or Sony's own PlayStation Link earbuds.
- The LCD screen looks flat next to an OLED handheld.
- Charging takes over two hours.
From 545 buyer ratings at Currys, Boulanger (France), Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia), Takealot (South Africa) and Costco (US), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- A hit with childrenMentioned a lot
- Sharp, bright screenMentioned a lot
- Cloud games without a PS5Mentioned often
- Play while someone else uses the TVMentioned often
- Play away from home on any Wi-FiMentioned often
- Light and comfortableAlso mentioned
What they complain about
- Lags or drops out unless the Wi-Fi is very strongRare
- Only works with a PS5 left on, or with PS Plus PremiumRare
- Not worth the moneyVery rare
Get it if…
- Someone else uses the TV and you want to keep playing your PS5.
- Your home Wi-Fi is fast and steady.
- You have PlayStation Plus Premium for cloud games.
Skip it if…
- You don't own a PS5 or PlayStation Plus Premium.
- Your Wi-Fi drops in some rooms.
- You want to play on trips: a Switch or Steam Deck plays games itself.
More on the PlayStation Portal
How we reached this verdict
TechRadar calls it the best way to play PS5 games away from the TV, praising the comfortable DualSense halves and six-hour battery, and notes the November 2025 update that lets it stream cloud games with PlayStation Plus Premium; its complaints are the LCD and slow charging. Stuff found eight hours of battery and low latency but dropouts and bugs whenever Wi-Fi faltered, and a lot of money for a device that runs nothing itself. Sony raised its price to £219.99 and $249.99 in April 2026. Owners at Currys, Takealot and Boulanger love playing while someone else has the TV and the sharp screen; the main complaint is lag and dropouts unless the Wi-Fi is very strong.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Stuff, PlayStation Blog (prices), TechRadar, Push Square (PS5 Pro reviews), Tom's Guide (Switch Lite), manufacturer specifications.
Updated 4 Nov 2026How we decide