The PlayStation Portal Remote Player, Sony’s 8 inch handheld for streaming PS5 games, costs C$319.99 in Canada and US$249.99 in the United States. Both prices took effect on April 2, 2026, and it is a popular PlayStation accessory as the holiday gift season starts.
What it is
The Portal is not a standalone console. It plays the games installed on your own PS5 over Wi-Fi, so a PS5 and a PlayStation account are required. According to Sony, it has an 8 inch LCD screen with a 1080p resolution and can reach 60fps. The controls are built in and carry the DualSense features, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games.
Sony lists a minimum of 5Mbps broadband for use and recommends 15Mbps for a smoother experience. Audio goes through the built-in speakers, a wired headset, or PlayStation Link devices such as the PULSE Explore earbuds. Games that need a VR headset or extra peripherals are not compatible.
Why shoppers keep picking it
Part of the appeal is simple: it lets you keep playing while someone else uses the TV. Push Square reported Circana data showing that by the end of 2025, 7% of US PS5 owners also owned a Portal, the highest share recorded so far. The same report points to a software update that lets PlayStation Plus Premium members stream games from their digital library without downloading them to the console, which Push Square said gave the device “a new lease of life.”
Remote play itself does not need a PlayStation Plus membership. Cloud streaming away from the console does require the Premium tier, so factor that subscription in if you want it.
Who it suits, and who should skip
It suits people who already own a PS5 and want to play in another room, in bed or at the kitchen table without taking over the living room TV. Households that share one television will get the most from it.
Skip it if you do not own a PS5, or if you want a device that plays games by itself on the road. The Portal depends on a console that is switched on or in rest mode and on a good Wi-Fi connection, and the quality of play varies with your network.
Against the obvious alternative
A handheld such as the Nintendo Switch 2 runs its own games anywhere, while the Portal only extends the PS5 you already have. If your library lives on a PS5, the Portal is the more direct way to reach it. If you want a travel console with its own catalogue, it is not.
Price in Canada and the US
MobileSyrup reported the Canadian price moving to C$319.99 on April 2, 2026, and Sony’s PlayStation Blog lists US$249.99 for the same date. Both figures are higher than before, as part of a wider increase that also covered the PS5 and PS5 Pro. Prices can change at retailers, so check the current listing before buying.
