Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
I ’ve had a morsel of a love - hate kinship with thePlayStation Portalsince it launched . Initially , I was disappointed by Sony ’s cloud streaming equipment . I was impressed with its filmdom and value its DualSense integration , but its slimmeddown features made it feel like a cheap interpretation of a good theme . I ’ve since learned to find a usage slip for my PlayStation Portal that turned it into anintegral part of my gaming frame-up . It ’s very frail , but that does n’t mean it ’s not useful .
Ever since its launching , I ’ve been hoping for a refresh follow - up , whether that be a Pro model or a truePlayStation Portal 2 . It may be way too early to start talk over that considering that the Portal just launch in November 2023 , but the hopeful equipment has enough crying flaw that I ’d receive a fast - tracked successor . If Sony were to make a PlayStation Portal 2 , though , there ’s one feature article that ’s nonnegotiable : Bluetooth .
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
If you ’re unfamiliar with Sony ’s remote playing handheld , you might be a short confused . sure enough , a portable gambling comfort released in 2023 has Bluetooth support , right ? Weirdly , that ’s not the case — and it ’s the system ’s biggest problem .
Currently , you only have two audio options on the PlayStation Portal . There ’s a headphone jack on the back of the system that leave users to hook up pumped up headsets . you may plug in any earbuds or devices you want . However , wireless audio enthusiast are out of luck . The handheld does n’t feature Bluetooth support . At the moment , you but ca n’t apply most wireless headsets with it , which is a major problem for a play handheld .
There ’s a rationality for that … and it ’s a petty infuriating . The PlayStation Portal instead habituate a new Sony audio technical school called PlayStation Link . Sony claim that its proprietary connection technology allows for lower response time and better audio calibre , alongside faster connectedness amphetamine . That all sounds great on paper , but there ’s a big catch : only a few specific devices actually use PlayStation Link tech . If you need to expend a wireless headset with your Portal , you essentially need to buy a $ 150 pair ofPulse Elite cans . And if you want earbuds , you ’ll in all likelihood call for to seize the $ 200Pulse Explore .
It ’s not that these are n’t solid audio option . I own both of these machine and they ’re perfectly self-coloured ( though expensive ) audio alternative that well partner off with the Portal . I ca n’t say that I ’ve noticed a difference between PlayStation Link and Bluetooth , though . From a daily linear perspective , the connectedness speed , latency , and timbre dsn’t feel very unlike from what I get with the gimmick I usually use . That ’s go out me sceptical about PlayStation Link , which feel more like a selling gubbins that ’s squeeze players in the PlayStation 5 ecosystem to buy pricey unexampled headsets .
It may fathom like a small complaint , butPlayStation Linkis currently the Portal ’s biggest infirm point . A portable gambling machine is built around the concept of flexibility . Its power flexible joint on the melodic theme that you’re able to play PS5 wherever , whenever . To so heavily restrict what audio machine histrion can bring along with them is to deal the intact idea short . PlayStation Link needs to exist alongside Bluetooth , not supersede it . If the tech is really as adept as Sony pronounce it is , players should naturally want to invest in equipment that plunk for it by choice .
omit Bluetooth reinforcement is n’t the only feature I ’d want in a PlayStation Portal 2 . I ’d enjoy for a follow - up to come with its own carrying caseful or perhaps an upgrade toan OLED screenland . But for the moment , those are junior-grade wishes . The first thing I ’ll be looking for is whether or not I can use my favorite wireless headsets with it . If the next PlayStation Portal still wo n’t let me do that , I ca n’t imagine I ’ll be upgrading anytime shortly .
