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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchChoose PlayStation Portal if you want a dedicated handheld screen and controls for playing games from a PS5. Choose Backbone One if you want to use a compatible phone with Sony’s PS Remote Play app. Neither option replaces the console for this kind of remote play, and the available official specifications do not establish that one has lower latency, better image quality, or better value at current prices.
How the two setups differ
| What matters | PlayStation Portal | Backbone One |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and form | A dedicated remote-play device with its own screen and PlayStation controls. | A controller setup that uses a compatible phone as its screen. |
| What it connects to | A PS5 with compatible games installed. | A supported phone running the PS Remote Play app to connect to a PS5 or PS4. |
| Compatibility | Requires a PS5; it does not connect to PS4 consoles. | Sony lists Backbone One PlayStation Edition support for iPhones running iOS 15 or later and Android phones running Android 10 or later. Check the exact controller variant, phone model and connector fit. |
| Audio | Supports wired headsets or earbuds with a 3.5 mm connection and wireless audio devices using PlayStation Link. | The official Sony material cited here does not establish Backbone-specific audio features. |
| Subscription scope | PS Plus Premium is required for Portal cloud streaming, not for ordinary remote play from your own PS5. | Using Remote Play does not itself require Premium; a game’s multiplayer may have a separate PS Plus requirement. |
Choose Portal if you want a dedicated PS5 handheld
Portal is the more direct fit if you want a separate device rather than using your phone. For remote play, it connects to a PS5—not a PS4—and plays compatible games installed on that console. Your PS5 must be online, powered on or in Rest Mode, and paired with Portal. A PlayStation account and broadband connection are also required. Sony’s Portal product page notes that performance varies with the game and network conditions.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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PS Portal + Case + Charging Station | $300.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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PlayStation PS Portal + Case | $272.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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PlayStation Portal Remote Player 5 | $231.22 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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PlayStation 5 Portal Remote Player - Midnight Black | Buy on Amazon |
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There are limits to what the installed-game remote-play path covers: games requiring PS VR or PS VR2, or additional peripherals outside the specified PlayStation controllers, are not supported. Sony also excludes games that must be streamed on PS5 using PS Plus Premium from this ordinary remote-play path.
Portal’s stated Wi-Fi guidance
Sony’s US product page, accessed October 7, 2026, specifies a minimum Wi-Fi connection speed of 5 Mbps and recommends 15 Mbps for a better experience. These are Sony’s stated requirements and recommendation, not a guarantee of smooth play; actual results can vary with the network and game.
#1 Best Overall
- Put Your PS5 in the Palm of Your Hand - PlayStation Portal Remote Player gives you access to the games on your PS5 over your home Wi-Fi*, letting you jump right into gaming without needing to play on a TV.
- Play Your Game Collection - PlayStation Portal Remote Player can play compatible games you have installed on your PS5 console, including your favorite games for PS5 and PS4.**
- Store and Protect – Sturdy outer shell, molded interior and dual zipper pulls provides protection for the PlayStation Portal remote player
- Charging Cable Pass-through – Allows a charging cable to be plugged into the PS Portal while stored inside the case
- Charge and Display – Charge the PlayStation Portal remote player and display it next to your PlayStation5 console
Using Portal away from home
Sony says Portal supports public Wi-Fi. Some public networks require additional validation through a phone or tablet, and initial setup must be completed on home Wi-Fi. If you expect to use it while travelling, check whether the network’s sign-in process allows you to complete that validation. Sony lists the supported audio connections as 3.5 mm wired headsets or earbuds and PlayStation Link wireless devices.
Choose Backbone One if you want to play on your phone
Backbone One uses a compatible phone as the display, paired with Sony’s PS Remote Play app. This is the better match if you prefer a phone-based setup or already have a supported device. Sony’s PS Remote Play device page lists Backbone One PlayStation Edition compatibility for iPhones running iOS 15 or later and Android phones running Android 10 or later. Sony’s mobile Remote Play support guide covers connecting a phone or tablet to a PS5 or PS4 and includes setup instructions for Backbone One PlayStation Edition.
Rank #2
- Put Your PS5 in the Palm of Your Hand - PlayStation Portal Remote Player gives you access to the games on your PS5 over your home Wi-Fi*, letting you jump right into gaming without needing to play on a TV.
- Play Your Game Collection - PlayStation Portal Remote Player can play compatible games you have installed on your PS5 console, including your favorite games for PS5 and PS4.**
- Experience Breathtaking Immersion with DualSense Wireless Controller Features - Feel the incredible immersion of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games.****
- Store and Protect – Sturdy outer shell, molded interior and dual zipper pulls provides protection for the PlayStation Portal remote player
- Charging Cable Pass-through – Allows a charging cable to be plugged into the PS Portal while stored inside the case
Those operating-system thresholds do not confirm that every phone fits every Backbone One. Before buying, check the exact Backbone variant and connector against your phone model. The cited Sony material does not provide a complete connector matrix, current price, or Backbone-specific performance comparison, so those details should not be assumed.
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For Portal, remote play means connecting to your own PS5 and playing compatible games installed on it. It does not make a PS Plus Premium subscription a blanket requirement. Cloud streaming on Portal is a separate feature: Sony says it requires PS Plus Premium, a PlayStation account, an eligible adult account, an eligible region and suitable broadband. Game and catalogue eligibility can vary by region and over time. See Sony’s Portal cloud-streaming support page for the applicable requirements.
Rank #3
- Put Your PS5 in the Palm of Your Hand - PlayStation Portal Remote Player gives you access to the games on your PS5 over your home Wi-Fi*, letting you jump right into gaming without needing to play on a TV.
- Play Your Game Collection - PlayStation Portal Remote Player can play compatible games you have installed on your PS5 console, including your favorite games for PS5 and PS4.**
- Experience Breathtaking Immersion with DualSense Wireless Controller Features - Feel the incredible immersion of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games.****
- Beautiful 8” LCD Screen - Take in every exquisite detail of your favorite games as they come alive on a brightly lit and gorgeous full HD screen.
- 60fps Capable at 1080p Resolution - PlayStation Portal Remote Player can deliver silky smooth gameplay at up to 60fps with high image clarity on its 1080p resolution screen.***
Backbone One is a controller for the phone-based PS Remote Play route; using Remote Play itself does not imply that Premium is required. A particular game’s online multiplayer may have its own PS Plus requirement, separate from the remote-play connection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check your network before choosing either setup
Both options depend on remote play over a network, so a dedicated handheld does not remove network-related variation. Sony’s 5 Mbps minimum and 15 Mbps recommendation apply to Portal guidance; do not treat them as a separate Backbone performance test or as a promise of a particular experience. Sony’s Remote Play support information also warns that remote play can use substantially more data than many video streaming services. That matters especially if you plan to use mobile data or a capped connection.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Play Your Game Collection with Remote Play - PlayStation Portal Remote Player can play compatible games you have installed on your PS5 console, including your favorite games for PS5 and PS4.*
- Cloud Streaming from the Game Catalog and Classics Catalog - Discover an awesome library of PS5 games on the PlayStation Portal Remote Player with PlayStation Plus Premium. Access hundreds of games from the Game Catalog and Classics Catalog, streamed directly to your PlayStation Portal Remote Player with new games added every month.
- Cloud Streaming for PS5 Games in Your Library - With PlayStation Plus Premium, stream select digital PS5 games in Your Library from PlayStation Store directly to your PlayStation Portal Remote Player, with no downloads required. Enjoy instant access to some of the latest and greatest PS5 games in the palm of your hand.
- Tempest 3D AudioTech - Surround yourself with sound via Tempest 3D AudioTech on PlayStation Portal Remote Player. Experience realistic, immersive audio in supported PS5 games when a compatible audio device is connected, either wirelessly via PlayStation Link or wired via the 3.5mm audio jack.
- Beautiful 8” LCD Screen - Take in every exquisite detail of your favorite games as they come alive on a brightly lit and gorgeous full HD screen.
Which one should you get?
- Pick Portal if you want a purpose-built screen and PlayStation controls, and you have a PS5 with compatible installed games.
- Pick Backbone One if you want to use a supported phone with PS Remote Play and have confirmed that your phone fits the exact controller model.
- Compare your setup before buying if you are deciding based on latency, image quality, comfort, battery impact or price: the official material cited here does not establish a winner on those points.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
