The word has it that Sony is planning to release a new version of the hardware for the PlayStation Portal remote player, in which the major enhancement will be the switch to an OLED display possibly with a 120Hz refresh rate. Gamers have already started discussing about what this might mean for the device’s future and its limitations based on the report that was leaked by Zuby_Tech on his social media accounts. In case the rumor holds true, one of the measures taken to enhance the remote play visuals would be to replace the OLED screen, during which one of the major complaints about the LCD screen of the Portal would be resolved.
So, I’m like, hold up. The PlayStation Portal, which is somewhat of an oddball but also somewhat of an appealing instant-streaming-limited-to-PS5-handheld, might already be presented with a gigantic upgrade? It was just a year ago that the original one came out, and some people would either give it a thumbs up for the DualSense-in-your-hands feeling or would give it a thumbs down saying it was just a streamer. And now, out of nowhere, a tech leaker guy is saying that a model with an OLED screen is being worked on. And not just any OLED—one that could go up to 120Hz! So, are we looking at a leap of 100% from 60Hz LCD to this new situation? It really makes one wonder what Sony is up to and if they are actually taking in user feedback, you know?
Nevertheless, a reply from one of the users was particularly pointed out by others and it drew lots of people’s attention. It’s not just the display issue. The conversation rapidly shifted to the other criticisms aimed at the Portal… if I can put it that way. The gamer CyberTokyo_ didn’t mince words and directly said, “That’s cool and everything, but it’s still a streaming device. I have great internet and I’m still having low picture quality on mine, or random disconnects. It’s annoying to be honest.” This is the point that everywhere has become an issue. You may have the most gorgeous OLED screen in the world but if the Wi-Fi chip being used is still the old Wi-Fi 5 tech, which players CosmicAsad and OMGASUPRA say it is – then what’s the point? The image might be nicer when it works, but the Wi-Fi connection is actually the real bottleneck.
It’s a typical Sony strategy to be honest. Start with the device having an obvious cost-saving drawback and later offer a high-end version to tempt the early buyers to buy again. Some gamers are already on the bandwagon. Orion_Assante commented, “Nice, glad I waited.” And _TruRowe added, “OLED and HDR would get me to buy a new one.” The demand is clearly there. But, at the same time, it is like putting a sports car with fancy alloy wheels on a car that sometimes just… does not start.
As expected, there was a great deal of confusion in the comments. The platform wars were part of it, with Xbox fans like Rivercity76 ridiculing an “Xbox handheld banger.” Then, the whole debate about whether an iPad with the Remote Play app is simply a better option was raised. MacFan2410 was all for his iPad Pro experience, boasting that it plays in HDR and looks gorgeous. Zuby_Tech contradicted that the Portal is a “totally different experience.” I mean, it is – the in-built DualSense features are its major selling point. But, it is hard to argue against the usefulness of a tablet you already have over the limited functionality of a gaming device.
Besides, since no gaming rumor is ever complete without wild speculation about the next thing, people started to talk about a possible real PlayStation handheld successor. The one that not only streams but also plays games natively. Scoty3412 and the others were pointing to the leaker MLID, talking about a device with internal SSD slots and biding for high-speed SD cards support in the future. This is a different subject entirely but it shows where the players’ minds are – they see the Portal as a temporary fix and are daydreaming about a real Vita 2.
Upgrading the Portal with a better display is not a bad idea, it is an enhancement that would make the games look more colorful and vivid in your hands. Still, the online reaction is a big and loud reminder that hardware is just one part of the puzzle. Gamers are asking for a more reliable connection, possibly even WiFi 6E support to future-proof the device. They want the core streaming experience to be so rock-solid before they even care about refresh rates. It illustrates that gamers see the potential in Sony’s PlayStation ecosystem.
