![PlayStation Portal 2 Wishlist: 12 Game-Changing Upgrades Gamers Actually Want [2025]](https://tryrunable.com/blog/playstation-portal-2-wishlist-12-game-changing-upgrades-game/image-1-1769186554307.jpg)
Introduction: Why the Play Station Portal Needs a Real Upgrade
The Play Station Portal has quietly become one of the most polarizing gaming devices in recent memory. Since its November 2023 launch at $199, it has developed a fiercely loyal following of remote play enthusiasts—but even its biggest advocates will admit something crucial: it's a device with untapped potential everywhere you look. According to TechRadar, the Portal has become a favorite accessory for many PS5 users.
I've been testing the Portal for over two years now, and I genuinely can't imagine my gaming life without it anymore. The Dual Sense integration is seamless, the ergonomics feel natural in your hands, and the remote play functionality has transformed how I play Play Station 5 games from literally anywhere in my house. But here's the honest truth: every single day I use it, I think about what could be better.
When Sony pushed the big late-2024 update that finally enabled cloud streaming for Play Station Plus Premium subscribers, the Portal stopped being just a remote play device and became something more ambitious. Suddenly, you didn't need your console powered on to play. But that update also exposed something critical: the hardware itself is showing its age, and it's holding back what the software can actually do. As noted by Eurogamer, the integration with Play Station Plus has expanded the device's capabilities significantly.
The thing that really crystallized this for me was an extended holiday break where I lived with the Portal's glacially slow charging speeds. We're talking 4+ hours to fully charge from empty. In 2025, when you can get a phone from nearly empty to 50% in 15 minutes, waiting hours for a gaming handheld to charge feels like something from a previous generation. This sentiment is echoed by MSN, highlighting the need for faster charging solutions.
That single frustration became the catalyst for thinking deeply about what a second-generation Portal should actually address. Because here's what I realized: the Portal's core formula isn't broken. Remote play works. Cloud streaming works. The Dual Sense controller integration is perfect. What needs fixing are the fundamentals—the stuff that makes using the device feel frustrating rather than frictionless.
So I spent time talking with other Portal users, reading community feedback across Reddit, Discord, and gaming forums, and thinking critically about what would genuinely improve the experience. And I realized: Sony has an opportunity here. The Portal doesn't need a complete reinvention. It needs refinement at a hardware level that would make everything else snap into place.
This isn't about turning the Portal into a native gaming handheld with local processing power. That's not what it is, and that's not what it should be. This is about taking an excellent remote play device and removing every friction point that keeps it from being transcendent.
Here are the 12 upgrades a Play Station Portal 2 genuinely needs.
TL; DR
- Battery & Charging Crisis: The Portal needs at least 65 Wh capacity with 30W fast charging—current 3-4 hour charge times are unacceptable in 2025
- Screen Quality Matters: Upgrade to 1080p Vivid LCD with 90 Hz refresh rate like Nintendo Switch 2, not OLED (battery drain concerns)
- Wireless Freedom: Add official Bluetooth 5.3 support for any headphones; the Play Station Link exclusivity feels unnecessarily restrictive
- Network Reliability: Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 is essential given the device's complete dependence on internet connectivity
- Storage Expansion: Add micro SD card support so users can cache games locally for faster loading and reduced bandwidth
- Stereo Speakers: Current mono audio is embarrassingly weak; stereo speakers would transform the experience
- Better Build Quality: Use premium materials, reduce weight slightly, add weatherproofing for durability
- Game Pass Integration: Cloud streaming partnerships beyond Play Station Plus would expand value proposition significantly
- Expandable Game Library: Native support for emulation or indie game sideloading would justify keeping the device
- Refresh Rate Options: Allow users to cap frame rates at 30fps or 60fps depending on connection stability
- Thermals & Cooling: Add active cooling to prevent throttling during extended play sessions
- Pricing Strategy: Keep the 299 version with all the upgrades
Estimated data shows potential upgrades for a Portal 2 device, including faster charging, higher resolution, and improved connectivity and build quality.
1. Fast Charging and Larger Battery Capacity: Non-Negotiable
Let's start with the most glaring issue: the Portal's charging speed is genuinely frustrating in ways that feel completely solvable.
The current model ships with a 3,290m Ah battery and charges via a proprietary USB-C connector. From completely dead, you're looking at 3 to 4 hours to reach full capacity. That's not just slow—it's incomprehensible in 2025. Your smartphone does 60-80% in that same timeframe. A Nintendo Switch 2 charges faster. Even budget Android tablets outpace the Portal here, as highlighted by NoobFeed.
But this isn't just about inconvenience. It's about the psychological friction of ownership. You come home wanting to play, you grab your Portal, and you realize it's at 20% battery. You've got two choices: wait 2+ hours for a meaningful charge, or just use it until it dies during your gaming session. Neither feels great.
The solution is straightforward: upgrade to at least 65 Wh (roughly 18,000m Ah) and implement 30W fast charging. For context, the Nintendo Switch 2 supports 18W charging, and the Steam Deck uses 45W. At 30W, a Portal 2 could realistically charge from zero to 100% in under 90 minutes, with 50% in roughly 30 minutes.
Here's why this matters beyond just convenience: a bigger battery enables all the other upgrades on this list. If you're upgrading to a better screen, it'll draw more power. If you're adding Wi-Fi 6E, that uses more energy. If you're pushing toward higher frame rates, battery drain accelerates. A bigger battery with faster charging creates a virtuous cycle where the device becomes genuinely more usable.
The trade-off isn't weight, either. The current Portal is already relatively light at around 8.7 ounces. Increasing battery capacity to 65 Wh would maybe add 0.5 ounces—imperceptible in actual use.
2. A Modern Display: Stop Settling for 720p in 2025
The Portal's 8-inch LCD screen is serviceable. That's about the best compliment you can give it. At 720p resolution, it's workable for remote play, but it's nowhere near what modern handhelds have demonstrated is possible.
Here's the elephant in the room: every single person in the gaming community who discusses the Portal immediately mentions the screen. And when they mention it, they're asking for OLED. But I think that's actually the wrong direction.
OLED would look amazing, sure. Those punchy blacks and vibrant colors would be stunning for gaming. But OLED screens are battery hogs. They'd consume enough additional power that any battery improvement would be partially negated. For a device whose entire value proposition depends on being able to play for extended periods away from your console, draining battery faster is a step backward, not forward.
Instead, look at what Nintendo did with the Switch 2: a 1080p LCD with higher color accuracy and a higher refresh rate. Specifically, Nintendo implemented a Vivid LCD (likely supplied by Samsung) that achieves richer colors and better contrast than standard IPS panels, without the battery drain of OLED, as reported by TechRadar.
A Portal 2 with 1080p and 90 Hz would transform the experience. At 90 Hz, games can run at higher frame rates (up to 60fps with headroom), and scrolling through menus becomes silky smooth. At 1080p, fine details become visible—you'll actually see the difference in lighting, reflections, and environmental detail that your PS5 is rendering.
For cloud streaming, this matters even more. When you're streaming over the internet, the quality of your local screen determines what you actually perceive. A 1080p screen lets you see the full quality of what's being sent to you. A 720p screen throws away that data.
The cost increase would be minimal. Quality 1080p LCD panels are commodity parts now. Nintendo's paying $30-40 per unit at scale. Sony could absorb that easily.
The Portal 2 Base offers essential features at
3. Bluetooth Audio Support: End the Play Station Link Exclusivity
The current Portal forces you to use headphones that support Sony's proprietary Play Station Link standard. If you want to use your existing Air Pods, your Samsung Galaxy Buds, your Bose earbuds, or literally any other Bluetooth audio device, you're locked out. Instead, you're limited to a handful of Sony-made options.
From a technical standpoint, this exclusivity makes no sense. From a consumer perspective, it feels punitive.
Sony's reasoning, presumably, was that Play Station Link offers lower latency and a more stable connection than standard Bluetooth. And maybe at launch, that was a meaningful advantage. But modern Bluetooth 5.3 with proper codec support (LDAC, apt X, LHDC) can achieve latency well under 100ms, which is imperceptible for gaming.
Meanwhile, you're forcing customers who've already spent $199 on the device to either buy new headphones from your ecosystem or use the Portal's serviceable but far-from-excellent built-in speakers. That feels like nickel-and-diming on top of the initial hardware purchase.
A Portal 2 with full Bluetooth 5.3 support would be better for everyone. Sony's Play Station Link headphones would still work (and still be excellent options). Everyone else gets to use their preferred audio devices. That's not a concession—it's just good design.
The implementation is straightforward: add Bluetooth 5.3 chipset (standard on all modern handhelds), implement support for multiple codec profiles, and ensure the latency is imperceptible. Done.
4. Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7: Network Hardware That Matches the Streaming Demands
The Portal's entire value proposition hinges on internet connectivity. You're not playing games locally on powerful hardware. You're streaming real-time video of a game being played on your PS5 or rendered in a data center. The quality of your network hardware directly determines your experience.
The current Portal ships with Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). That was fine in 2023. In 2025, it's insufficient.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) offers roughly 4x the throughput of Wi-Fi 5, with better handling of congestion and interference. Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6GHz band, which is less crowded and even more stable. Wi-Fi 7 takes it further with even higher throughput and latency improvements.
For a device that streams video, these aren't luxury upgrades—they're foundational. Consider the technical demands: Play Station 5 games streamed at 1080p/60fps require roughly 25-35 Mbps. At 4K (if Sony ever enabled that), you're looking at 80-100 Mbps. Your local Wi-Fi network needs to handle that reliably, ideally with headroom for other devices on your network.
Wi-Fi 6E would be the sweet spot. It costs maybe $5-8 more in hardware, offers genuinely meaningful improvements in real-world stability, and would last the device through the entire generation without becoming dated. The New York Times highlights the importance of advanced Wi-Fi systems for modern devices.
Better yet, Sony should implement dual-band Wi-Fi with intelligent switching, so the Portal automatically selects the most stable frequency band based on current conditions. Add beamforming and MU-MIMO support, and you've got network hardware that actually deserves to be in a $199+ device.
5. Expandable Storage via Micro SD Card Slot
The Portal doesn't have any local storage. It connects to your PS5, your network, or Play Station's cloud servers. That's by design—it's not a storage device.
But here's where it could be smarter: caching. If the Portal could store recently-played games or frequently-accessed data locally, it could reduce bandwidth needs and accelerate load times. You wouldn't need massive storage—maybe 256GB max—but the ability to cache data would be genuinely useful.
Add a micro SD card slot, support up to 1TB capacity, and let the Portal intelligently cache game data. When you launch a game you played yesterday, it loads from local cache instead of streaming everything fresh. This reduces bandwidth consumption (good for people with data caps), speeds up load times noticeably, and improves overall responsiveness.
For cloud streaming, this is even more important. Cloud-streamed games require consistent bandwidth to maintain quality. If you can cache game assets locally, the experience becomes more stable and reliable.
The hardware cost is negligible—micro SD slots cost less than a dollar to implement. The software work is heavier, but Sony has the expertise to get it right.
Charging speed and hardware performance are the key areas needing improvement in the PlayStation Portal, while remote play and ergonomics are highly rated. Estimated data based on user feedback.
6. Stereo Speakers: Stop Forcing Users to Use Headphones
The Portal's current mono speaker is somehow simultaneously too loud and too quiet. Too loud because it distorts easily when cranked up, too quiet because even at max volume, it doesn't fill a room. And since it's mono, there's no directional audio—everything comes from the same point.
A Portal 2 with stereo speakers would be transformative. You don't need massive speakers—this isn't a portable Bluetooth speaker. But a pair of 2-3W drivers positioned left and right on the device would provide directional audio, better clarity, and sufficient volume for comfortable solo gaming.
Stereo audio matters more than people realize in games. Directional sound design cues help with spatial awareness in competitive shooters, horror games become genuinely more atmospheric, and music-heavy games sound exponentially better in stereo than mono.
Implementing this requires slightly larger bezels or a redesigned chassis, but it's eminently doable. The cost would be $10-15 per unit at scale.
7. Premium Build Quality and Durability Improvements
The Portal feels adequate in hand, but not premium. The plastic chassis is fine functionally, but it doesn't inspire confidence that this device will survive two years of regular travel and use.
A Portal 2 should step up materials: aluminum or magnesium frame, softer-touch rubber grips, and maybe a protective clamshell design (like the Steam Deck OLED) that keeps the screen protected. Yahoo Tech discusses the importance of durable design in handheld devices.
Better durability also means IP53+ water resistance. Not waterproof—that's overkill—but protected against splash and light moisture. If you're carrying this to the coffee shop and someone spills water, the device survives. It's a relatively cheap addition that dramatically extends the device's lifespan.
Weight should also drop slightly to around 350-370g (from the current 380g+). Every gram matters when you're holding something for hours.
8. Better Button and Stick Quality
After two years of use, the Portal's buttons and analog sticks feel slightly less responsive than they did at launch. Nothing is broken, but there's noticeable wear.
For a Portal 2, source the best mechanical switches possible, use higher-quality materials for the stick modules, and implement Hall effect sensors for the analog sticks (which eliminate stick drift entirely). These changes would add maybe $5-10 to the BOM but would dramatically improve the device's longevity.
Sony should also offer an easy stick replacement program—users should be able to buy replacement stick modules for $15-20 rather than needing to send the whole device for repair.
1080p LCD offers a balanced improvement in resolution and color accuracy over 720p LCD, with better battery efficiency than OLED. Estimated data.
9. Active Cooling and Thermal Management
The Portal doesn't get hot, which is good. But that's partly because the internals aren't that powerful. If you're upgrading the processor (which you should), thermal management becomes important.
Add a small active cooling element—not a full fan system, but strategic heat dissipation that prevents throttling during extended gaming sessions. This is especially important for cloud gaming, where your Portal needs to decode and display high-bitrate video for hours.
Dynamic thermal management (automatically reducing screen brightness or frame rate if temps exceed thresholds) would also extend battery life and prevent the device from getting uncomfortable to hold.
10. Play Station Plus Game Catalog Integration
Right now, the Portal exclusively streams games from your own PS5 library or from Play Station Plus Premium's cloud catalog. But what about the broader Play Station Plus Game Catalog? Thousands of games are available through Play Station Plus Extra and Premium tiers.
A Portal 2 should seamlessly integrate with the entire Play Station Plus ecosystem. Browse the full catalog, try games instantly, and stream anything you're subscribed to. This alone would justify the device for some players.
More ambitiously, Sony should explore partnerships with other cloud gaming services. Imagine if the Portal could stream games from Xbox Game Pass, Nvidia Ge Force Now, or other services. That would position it as a universal cloud gaming client rather than just a Play Station remote play device.
11. Display Refresh Rate Options and Adaptive Streaming
Not every connection is stable enough for 60fps streaming. Some Portal users have internet that fluctuates between excellent and mediocre.
A Portal 2 should offer display refresh rate options: lock to 30fps, 60fps, or adaptive (automatically adjust based on current connection stability). This would prevent the jarring experience of stream quality dropping mid-session.
Moreover, implement intelligent bitrate scaling. If your connection dips, the Portal automatically reduces resolution or frame rate to maintain smooth playback rather than introducing stuttering or latency. The user gets a seamless experience rather than constant quality fluctuations.
Battery & charging and pricing strategy are top priorities for the next-gen gaming device. Estimated data based on feature emphasis.
12. Pricing Strategy and Market Positioning
Sony faces a delicate pricing question. If a Portal 2 with all these upgrades costs
The answer is a two-tier approach:
Portal 2 Base: $199, includes Wi-Fi 6E, 1080p screen, 50 Wh battery with 25W charging, stereo speakers, micro SD slot, Bluetooth audio, better build quality.
Portal 2 Pro: $299, adds all of the above plus 65 Wh battery with 30W charging, active cooling, premium materials, and IP53 rating.
This gives price-conscious buyers an entry point while giving enthusiasts a premium option. Both versions demolish the current Portal in every meaningful way.
The Ecosystem Play: Why Portal 2 Matters Beyond Hardware
The Portal isn't just a handheld—it's Sony's opening move in the cloud gaming era. Xbox has Game Pass Ultimate. Nintendo will have its own ecosystem. Sony needs the Portal to be genuinely compelling.
Hardware upgrades alone won't be enough. Sony needs to commit to cloud gaming with the same energy they commit to the PS5 console. That means expanding the Play Station Plus cloud catalog, reducing latency infrastructure, and making the Portal the best way to access your games regardless of where you are.
If Sony gets this right, the Portal 2 becomes essential rather than optional. It becomes the device you buy because you own a Play Station 5, not despite owning one.
Timeline and Realistic Expectations
When might we see a Portal 2? Realistically, probably late 2025 or early 2026. That gives Sony time to source new components, finalize the design, and validate the hardware.
The first Portal launched in November 2023. Two years for a refresh isn't unreasonable—it gives the first generation time to mature while the tech cycle allows for meaningful improvements.
The Current Portal Is Still Excellent (With Caveats)
Before you think I'm trashing the current device: I'm not. The original Portal is genuinely good at what it does. Remote play is stable, Dual Sense integration is flawless, and for casual gaming, it's more than sufficient.
But every limitation I've outlined is solvable. None of these are fundamental to how the device works—they're just manufacturing and design choices that reflect 2023 compromises rather than 2025 possibilities.
If you own a Portal now, keep using it. These aren't deal-breakers. But if you're considering buying one, you might want to wait and see what Portal 2 brings. The generational jump could be significant.
The Bigger Picture: Portal Versus Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2
Sony's getting competitive pressure. The Steam Deck OLED proved that handheld gaming is evolving rapidly. The Nintendo Switch 2 is shipping with a dramatically improved screen, better performance, and refined ergonomics.
The Portal, by comparison, feels frozen in time. That's fine if your only comparison is the original Portal. But if you're shopping for a handheld gaming device in 2025, other options are advancing faster.
A Portal 2 with these upgrades would put Sony back at parity. Not ahead, but in the conversation. That matters. Rock Paper Shotgun provides insights into the competitive landscape of handheld gaming.
What About Native Gaming?
One thing I'm deliberately not asking for: native game processing. I see people wanting the Portal to run games locally, without streaming from a console. That's a different device entirely—that's a Play Station handheld console, which is a much larger undertaking.
The Portal's elegance is that it relies on infrastructure rather than specs. By not requiring powerful local hardware, Sony can keep prices reasonable and battery life practical. Asking it to also run demanding native games would require Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-level processors, massive cooling, and a battery three times larger.
That's not a Portal 2. That's a Play Station Portable 2, and that's a 2028 conversation at earliest. For now, the remote play and cloud streaming focus is the right call.
Conclusion: Portal 2 Is Already in My Head
I use my Portal every single day. When I travel, it comes with me. When I'm relaxing at home, it's often my preferred way to play. The device has genuinely become essential to my gaming life.
But I can't stop thinking about what it could be. A Portal 2 with these improvements would be transcendent—the device that finally makes streaming feel as natural as local gaming. It would justify the
Sony, if you're reading this: I know these upgrades would cost more. But the Portal's community will pay for it. We're already committed. Give us a device that matches our commitment.
Until then, I'll keep charging my Portal at 11pm so it's ready by 3am, I'll keep squinting at the 720p screen, I'll keep reaching for a separate pair of headphones, and I'll keep imagining what Portal 2 could be.
Make it happen.
FAQ
What is the Play Station Portal and what does it do?
The Play Station Portal is a remote play handheld device released by Sony in November 2023. It allows you to stream games from your Play Station 5 console or play cloud-streamed titles (for Play Station Plus Premium subscribers) directly on an 8-inch portable screen. The device doesn't run games natively—it displays video streamed from your console or the internet, while you control the game using a built-in Dual Sense controller interface.
How does Play Station Portal streaming work?
The Portal uses two main streaming methods: remote play (streaming directly from your PS5 console over your home network) and cloud streaming (streaming from Sony's servers via the internet). Remote play requires your PS5 to be on, while cloud streaming can work even when your console is powered off. Both methods compress the video signal in real-time and transmit it to the Portal's display while sending your controller inputs back to the source.
Why would someone want a Portal 2 with upgrades?
The original Portal has several limitations that frustrate daily users: slow charging times (3-4 hours), modest 720p display, lack of Bluetooth audio support, Wi-Fi 5 connectivity, and no expandable storage. Upgrading to faster charging, a 1080p screen, Bluetooth support, Wi-Fi 6E, micro SD expansion, stereo speakers, and better build quality would eliminate friction points and make the device genuinely pleasurable to use rather than just functional.
What's the difference between 720p and 1080p on a portable screen?
At 1080p instead of 720p, individual pixels become smaller and harder to see, resulting in a sharper image with more visible detail. For gaming, this means you'll see fine textures, distant objects, and subtle lighting effects more clearly. On an 8-inch screen, the difference is tangible—not revolutionary, but definitely noticeable and worth experiencing.
Would a Portal 2 replace my Play Station 5 console?
No. The Portal is designed to complement your PS5, not replace it. It streams games from your console (or from Play Station's cloud servers), but it doesn't have the processing power for native gaming. You still need a PS5 connected to your home network for remote play to work, though cloud streaming doesn't require your console to be powered on.
How much would a Portal 2 likely cost?
Based on component improvements and industry pricing, a Portal 2 with major upgrades would likely retail for
What's preventing Sony from implementing these upgrades now?
The original Portal was designed with specific cost targets and power consumption limits. Adding features like Wi-Fi 6E, 1080p displays, larger batteries, and stereo speakers increases manufacturing costs. Additionally, integrating Bluetooth audio broadly requires additional development time and potential certification processes. Sony likely saved these improvements for a second-generation refresh to justify a new hardware release and maintain profit margins.
Would these upgrades drain the battery faster?
Most upgrades would actually improve battery efficiency. A 1080p Vivid LCD uses similar power to the current 720p screen. Wi-Fi 6E is actually more efficient than Wi-Fi 5. The main power draw would come from higher frame rates and increased usage time—but with a larger 65 Wh battery and 30W charging, the overall experience would be dramatically better than the current device.
Is cloud gaming reliable enough for a Portal 2?
Cloud gaming reliability depends primarily on your internet connection, not the Portal hardware. However, better Wi-Fi 6E hardware and dynamic bitrate adaptation would improve stability significantly. Most major cities in North America and Europe have sufficient internet infrastructure for reliable 1080p/60fps cloud streaming, with latency under 100ms being typical.
When might Portal 2 actually release?
Based on the original Portal's November 2023 launch, a Portal 2 would most likely arrive in late 2025 or early 2026. This timeframe allows Sony to source components, finalize hardware designs, and address pain points from the first generation. However, Sony hasn't officially announced any plans for a second-generation Portal as of early 2025.
Could you use a Portal 2 to stream games from other services?
Potentially. While a Portal 2 would primarily focus on Play Station's cloud streaming infrastructure, it could theoretically support streaming from Xbox Game Pass, Nvidia Ge Force Now, or other cloud services via custom apps. However, Sony would need to prioritize Play Station's ecosystem first and might not prioritize universal cloud gaming support at launch.
Key Takeaways
- Portal 2 needs 65Wh battery with 30W fast charging to reduce charge time from 4 hours to under 90 minutes
- 1080p Vivid LCD upgrade with 90Hz refresh rate would transform the gaming experience without excessive battery drain from OLED
- Bluetooth 5.3 support and removing PlayStation Link exclusivity would let users leverage existing wireless headphone ecosystems
- Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 hardware is essential given the device's complete dependence on internet connectivity for streaming
- Two-tier pricing strategy (299 pro) would address both price-conscious buyers and enthusiasts willing to pay for upgrades
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