The PlayStation Portal is the perfect handheld device for playing PS5 games on the go. Thanks to its ergonomic design and solid performance, this is the best way to play your PS5 games remotely without losing the console experience. It won’t play games natively, though, and is a streaming accessory so requires a stable internet connection and for you to own a PS5.
For
- The best way to play your PS5 games remotely
- Ergonomic and accessible design with strong build quality
- Brilliantly translates PS5 games to a handheld device
Against
- LCD screen can show its limitations
- Sluggish battery charging
Released in 2017, the Nintendo Switch changed the handheld console game, allowing you to play docked or on the go. This hybrid console gives you access to a huge collection of Nintendo exclusives and third-party titles, but its age is starting to show, so it could be worth considering the upgraded Nintendo Switch OLED instead – or waiting for the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.
For
- Unique hybrid design
- HD Rumble
- Two controllers included
- Bright, crisp, colorful screen
Against
- Joy-Con charge on console only
- Split D-pad
- Oddly placed right analogue stick
If you’re looking for a portable handheld gaming device, the PlayStation Portal vs Nintendo Switch are both solid options, but which is best for you will depend on several factors.
The PlayStation Portal is the perfect choice for PlayStation enthusiasts who already own a PS5, PS5 Slim, or PS5 Pro and want a remote-play device that lets you seamlessly play the best PS5 games on the go.
The Nintendo Switch, on the other hand, is an innovative hybrid gaming console that allows you to download and play the best Switch games via your TV or in handheld mode.
It’s tricky to compare these devices because, unlike the Switch, the PlayStation Portal technically isn’t a handheld games console, but a streaming device. But if portable gaming is your sole goal, both are great options – though one may suit your needs better. To make your choice easier, we’ve broken down the key aspects of both devices below.
PlayStation Portal vs Nintendo Switch: price and value
There’s a slight price difference between the PlayStation Portal and the Nintendo Switch, with the Portal costing $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329 and the Nintendo Switch costing $259.99 / £259.99 / AUD$435. That said, we often see discounts on the Nintendo Switch and Switch bundles, especially around sale periods, so you can likely pick one up for slightly less – with some games to boot.
While stock of both devices was limited at launch, they’re now easily obtainable. The PlayStation Portal is available directly from the PlayStation Store and third-party retailers and the Nintendo Switch is available at third-party retailers (who often do discounts) and from the Nintendo website.
Let’s talk value for money. The PlayStation Portal is pretty pricey considering it’s a remote-play device that doesn’t natively play games – and requires a PS5 to connect to. It performs brilliantly, but has the same price tag as the more lightweight Nintendo Switch Lite, which costs $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329.95. The Switch Lite is a handheld-only version of the Nintendo Switch and the perfect option for those on a budget who aren’t fussed about TV compatibility.
While the Nintendo Switch’s age is beginning to show, it’s actually priced pretty well in comparison to the competition, with the Xbox Series X costing $499 / £479 / AU$749 and the PS5 priced at $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95.
Note, however, that the Switch is nowhere near as powerful as these consoles, but there’s still a huge library of games available. If the Switch’s dated technology (which we dig into further down) is a factor, it’s worth considering the Switch OLED, which costs slightly more at $349.99 / £309.99 / AU$539.95, or waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2. Check out our Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch guide for information on the the main differences between the two.
PlayStation Portal vs Nintendo Switch: specs
Here is the full list of specs for the PlayStation Portal and the Nintendo Switch.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | PlayStation Portal | Nintendo Switch |
| Price | $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329 | $259.99 / £259.99 / AUD$435 |
| CPU | Snapdragon 680 processor | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor |
| GPU | Snapdragon 680 SoC | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor |
| RAM | Snapdragon 680 SoC | 4GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | N/A | 32 GB |
| Display | 8-inch LCD touchscreen (1920 x 1080 resolution) | 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen (1280 x 720 resolution) |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Battery life | 4,370mAh battery, charged via USB-C, roughly 5-6 hours | 4,310mAh battery, charged via USB-C roughly 4.5 – 9 hours |
| Ports | x1 USB-C, x1 3.5mm headphone jack | Handheld: x1 USB-C, x1 microSD card slot, x1 3.5mm headphone jack, x1 game cartridge slot / TV Mode dock: x1 HDMI, x2 USB 2.0, x1 USB, x1 AC Adapter |
| Connectivity | WiFi 5, PlayStation Link | WiFi (can be connected with LAN adapter in TV mode, not included), Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Weight | 18.66oz / 529g | 10.56oz / 299g or 14.08oz / 399g (with Joy-Cons attached) |
| Dimensions | 12in x 2.4in x 4.7in / 305mm x 60mm x 120mm | 4in x 9.4in x 0.55in / 101.6mm x 238.76mm x 13.97mm (with Joy-Cons attached) |
| Expandable storage | No | Yes, via microSD cards up to 2TB |
PlayStation Portal vs Nintendo Switch: design and features
The PlayStation Portal will look familiar to PS5 players. It’s pretty much a DualSense Wireless Controller – with the same white wings and black detail -wrapped around an 8-inch LCD touchscreen. While the Portal’s button placement is largely the same, a few have been repositioned, and the thumbsticks are smaller than the DualSense.
The Portal doesn’t just look like a DualSense; it also has the same haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for more immersive gaming. Alongside this, the Portal has PlayStation Link connectivity, which connects the device with compatible accessories such as the Pulse Elite headset or Pulse Explore earbuds. If you don’t have a PlayStation Link-compatible device, you can connect a headset via the 3.55 audio jack, but frustratingly, there’s no Bluetooth support yet.
The Nintendo Switch looks considerably different to the Portal. The most important aspect of this console is its 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen, which you can insert into its grayish-black dock for TV play or slide your two provided Joy-Con controls on either side for handheld play. For TV mode, straps are provided so you can safely play without one flying into a plant pot, but you can also combine these Joy-Cons using a provided grip to create a more traditional controller. If you want something between TV and handheld play, you can use the kickstand on the back of the screen to prop it up while using the controllers as you would with the TV.
Off the bat, the Nintendo Switch offers more versatility and is much easier to use portably, while the PlayStation Portal is pretty chunky for taking on the go. The Switch also offers all-important Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to connect a wider range of accessories. Both devices, however, are comfortable to use, with the Portal having the edge thanks to its ergonomic design.
PlayStation Portal vs Nintendo Switch: performance and battery life
As we’ve said previously, the PlayStation Portal isn’t a handheld gaming console – it’s a PS5 streaming accessory and a great one at that. This does mean, though, that the PlayStation Portal doesn’t play games natively and only allows for remote play from your PS5. In other words, you aren’t actually running games on the device; you’re streaming them from your own PS5. As such, you need a stable internet connection for the Portal to work efficiently and – of course – to already own a PS5 console.
The Portal’s performance is superb, though. In our testing, we found games on the Portal to run as smoothly as on console with little to no lag or input delay. While the LCD screen can show its limitations at times, image quality is excellent overall, as is the audio quality from the built-in speakers.
The Switch, on the other hand, is a handheld gaming console. This means it runs games natively and does so (mostly) pretty well. When the Switch released it was innovative in design terms, even if it wasn’t quite on par with the competition in terms of performance or image quality. That was fine then, as the Switch isn’t meant to go toe-to-toe with the latest PlayStation or Xbox, it just needed to be a solid hybrid console – and it absolutely is. The majority of games run well and there’s a huge collection of third-party titles and Nintendo exclusives available for the whole family.
However, as the years have passed, the Switch has started to show its age and more demanding games are putting a strain on its hardware. At the time of writing, it’s seven years old – usually the end of a console’s lifespan – so, it’s no surprise there’s a Switch 2 in the pipeline. If performance and fidelity are important to you, it could be worth holding out for its successor – or getting a Switch OLED – but if you don’t plan to run many intensive games, or are looking for a family handheld, the original Switch is perfectly fine.
Neither device shines in battery life, with the Portal allowing for five to six hours of play (and taking two hours to charge) and the Switch capable of four-and-a-half to nine hours (but taking three hours to charge). How long your battery will last largely depends on how demanding the game you’re playing is, especially with the Switch, but while the Portal is out of commission while recharging, you can at least change to TV mode for the Switch.
When it comes to performance, the Portal wins here as its performance is on par with the PS5 – but only when you have a stable internet connection. The Switch is suitable for those who want a solid handheld console, are unfussed by performance, and don’t need bleeding-edge tech.
PlayStation Portal vs Nintendo Switch: verdict
Which device you should choose really comes down to what games you want to play, how much you care about performance, and whether you want a streaming device or a handheld console.
If you want access to Nintendo exclusives and third-party releases, the Nintendo Switch is the best option. Nintendo’s hybrid console allows for access to both, though, you won’t have access to PlayStation or Xbox exclusives. The Switch is also the best choice if you want a handheld gaming console that doubles as a traditional console, want a handheld that doesn’t require an internet connection (unless you’re downloading games or playing online) or don’t own a PS5 and/or aren’t invested in the PlayStation ecosystem.
The PlayStation Portal is really for PS5 owners who want to comfortably play their library remotely – without losing the gameplay experience console offers. If that’s not you, this probably isn’t the device for you.