The new PlayStation Portal got extra storage. But nobody knows why

At first glance, it’s just a regular color variant of the popular PS5 handheld. However, Sony has hidden a change in it that it hasn’t yet explained. The new PlayStation Portal Player received more internal storage, reportedly “with future features in mind,” as the company itself stated on the PlayStation blog for Japan.

The console got extra storage, but nobody knows why

The announcement on the Japanese PlayStation Blog is very brief on this point. Sony only states that the new model includes additional internal storage and will announce details when they are finalized. It did not disclose how much memory was added at all.

Furthermore, Notebookcheck noticed that the Korean version of the announcement talks about expanding existing storage. The Portal has naturally always had some memory, at least for the system running on it. Let’s also recall that when hackers ran a PSP game emulator on it in 2024, they reportedly found about 6 GB of free space.

Streaming applications could be the new feature

The PlayStation Portal itself doesn’t need any extra storage. It doesn’t run games itself; it only streams them: either from your PS5 via Wi-Fi, or since last year also from the cloud as part of PlayStation Plus Premium. This is also consistent with other hardware equipment, such as a Qualcomm processor corresponding to a low-to-mid-range smartphone. PS5 games would be too much for it. Therefore, downloading games to memory is practically out of the question.

The Verge therefore spekuluje o jiných možnostech. The Portal could get apps like YouTube, Netflix, or Disney+, which it doesn’t currently support, or it could be possible to download videos to memory for offline viewing. The new name might also be a clue. “PlayStation Portal Remote Player” becomes “PlayStation Portal Player,” but Sony officially justifies the change by stating that the device no longer serves only for remote play from the console.

Display and chip remain, OLED still nowhere to be seen

Aside from the memory, everything else remains the same. The Portal still features an 8-inch LCD display with 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second, haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio support. Even the Midnight Black color is not new; Sony has offered it for the Portal since last year. So, the speculated OLED display version is not happening yet.

In Japan, the new model will be released on December 10 with a price tag of 39,980 yen (approximately 5,500 CZK converted), and in South Korea, it should cost 378,000 won. Pre-orders start on November 13, and the package includes one month of PlayStation Plus Premium. However, both versions have the system only in the local language and work only with an account from that specific country. Sony has not disclosed when or if it will arrive in Europe.

If you don’t miss the extra memory, the black PlayStation Portal Remote Player is already on sale in the Czech Republic.

What would you use the storage in PlayStation Portal for?

Sources: PlayStation Blog, The Verge, Notebookcheck