playstation portal vs nintendo switch — Images via Nintendo and PlayStation

Should I Buy The Playstation Portal Or The Nintendo Switch?

Which is the better purchase between the PS Portal and the Nintendo Switch? Depends on your requirements!

By Nikita Hariname Last updated Nov 22, 2023

Playstation Portal is one of the most sought-after devices for Playstation fans, but if you are currently on the fence about buying the PS Portal vs Nintendo Switch, we’ve compiled and compared various aspects which may help you make your decision.

Table of Contents

Playstation Portal vs Nintendo Switch

Let’s get the basics out of the way. The PS Portal is a handheld gaming accessory for the PS5. To use a PlayStation Portal, you need to already own a PS5 and have a good Wi-Fi connection.

The Nintendo Switch is a video game console that was released in most regions worldwide on March 3, 2017. You can either use it as a portable device and game anywhere you go or dock it for home console use.

PS Portal vs Nintendo Switch Pricing

you need a ps5 to use ps portal — image via PlayStation

If you are planning to buy a Playstation Portal, it will cost you $199.99 and if you don’t have a PS5 yet, you will need another purchase of one of these models:

PS5 Slim: $499. 99
PS5 Slim Digital Edition: $449.99
PS5 Console: $499.99
PS5 Digital Edition: $399. 99

nintendo switch is a standalone gaming console — image via Nintendo

Potential Nintendo Switch buyers have a few models to choose from:

Nintendo Switch OLED model: $349.99
Nintendo Switch: $299.99
Nintendo Switch Lite: $199.99

Note: The prices mentioned above are launch/Introductory prices; you can find them for much cheaper with various deals across different stores.

PS Portal vs Nintendo Switch Subscriptions

If you are planning on getting subscriptions for your device, here are the options you have:

Nintendo Switch users can access the Nintendo Online membership which costs $19.99 for 12 months. With this subscription, you can play online with players around the world, get 100+ classic NES, Super NES, and Game Boy games at your fingertips, save on new games via vouchers, and get a bunch of added features.

PlayStation users can subscribe to PS Plus with different tiers – Essential, Extra, and Premium. The most expensive one, Premium, costs $159.99 for a 12-month subscription. This gives you access to monthly games, online multiplayer, discounts, cloud storage, game catalog, Ubisoft+ classics, and much more exclusive stuff.

Make sure to head over to the official sites for Nintendo and PlayStation for detailed information regarding the tiers and features before deciding to go ahead with the purchase.

Specs

Nintendo Switch OLED Model Specs

	*The depth from the tip of the analog sticks to the tip of the ZL/ZR buttons is 1.12 inches
Weight	Approximately .71 lbs
	(Approximately .93 lbs with Joy-Con controllers attached)
Screen	Multi-touch capacitive touch screen / 7.0 inch OLED screen / 1280×720
CPU/GPU	NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor
Storage	64 GB
	Users can easily expand storage space using microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2TB (sold separately).
Wireless	Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compliant) / Bluetooth 4.1
Video output	Up to 1080p via HDMI in TV mode
	Up to 720p via built-in screen in Tabletop mode and Handheld modes
Audio output	Compatible with 5.1ch Linear PCM output
	Output via HDMI connector in TV mode
Speakers	Stereo
Buttons	Power button / Volume button
USB connector	USB Type-C
	Used for charging or for connecting to the Nintendo Switch dock.
Headphone/mic jack	3.5mm 4-pole stereo (CTIA standard)
Game card slot	Nintendo Switch game cards
microSD card slot	Compatible with microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC memory cards
	*Once the microSDXC card is inserted, a system update will be necessary. An internet connection is required to perform this system update.
Sensor	Accelerometer, gyroscope, and brightness sensor
Operating environment	41-95 degrees F / 20-80% humidity
Internal battery	Lithium-ion battery / 4310mAh
Battery life	Approximately 4.5 – 9 hours
	The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Charging time	Approximately 3 hours
	*When charging while the hardware is in sleep mode

PS Portal Specs

Screen	8-inch LCD (Full HD)
Resolution	1080p at 60 FPS
Battery	4,370mAh
Weight	529 grams
Connectivity	PlayStation Link

Nintendo Switch vs PS Portal Games

Some of the best PS5 exclusives to play

Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Ghost of Tsushima
Astro’s Playroom
Gran Turismo 7
Returnal
God of War Ragnarok
The Last of Us Part I
Demon’s Souls
Destruction AllStars
Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Final Fantasy 16

Bluetooth Comparison

PlayStation Portal does not have Bluetooth to connect your headphones wirelessly. It uses the PlayStation Link USB adapter key to ensure that players enjoy a fast, lossless, ultra-low latency audio connection.

With Nintendo Switch’s system version 13.0.0 or higher, you can now use Bluetooth audio devices such as wireless earphones, headphones, and speakers.

Vibration

The PS Portal features haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported games, and these vibrations react to your in-game choices, and the environmental factors also add to it.

Nintendo Switch has the HD Rumble feature on your Joy-Con controllers, but the Lite version of the handheld console does not have a vibration feature.

Should I Buy the Playstation Portal or the Nintendo Switch?

It ultimately depends on how you want to experience gaming, where you are, and your budget.

During your travels, if you go to a remote location with access to little to no internet connection, your offline Nintendo Switch games will come to the rescue and the PS Portal will struggle.

But if you have access to stable internet while you are at a hotel or anywhere else, the PlayStation Portal will do what it’s supposed to do (and so will your Switch).

With the PlayStation Portal Remote Player, you can access the games on your PS5 over your home Wi-Fi, so you don’t have to start or play on your TV to jump right into the game.

But if you are traveling anywhere in the world, you have to ensure that both your PS5 console and the PS Portal are connected to Wi-Fi (at least 15Mbps speed is required, but it’s possible with even a minimum of 5Mbps).

At the end of the day, the Portal is an add-on device designed to make your PS gaming even more accessible and the Nintendo Switch is a standalone console in itself.

If you already own a PS5 and would like to use the console while a family member wants to watch something on the TV it’s connected to, you can use your PS Portal and stream the gaming content remotely. This will work as an extra accessory to make your life easier.

Similarly, if someone wants to use your TV, you can undock the Switch and play the games in its handheld form. You don’t have to buy an extra device for this purpose.

Personal Opinion

If you already have a PS5 but want to add a handheld gaming device to your arsenal, I’d suggest you go for the Switch. This way, you can enjoy your PlayStation favorites while using your TV, and whenever you are on the go, you can experience a whole new range of exclusive Nintendo games.

I personally prefer getting the best out of my PS5 with games like Spider-Man 2 running on full 4K. For remote play, I use Sony’s PS Remote Play app to stream the game on iOS or Android devices when the 4K screen is occupied.

Also, the PS Portal costs $199.99, which is the exact cost of Switch Lite. If you do not prefer the docking to TV feature (as PS Portal also lacks that like Lite) then this is the way for you to get introduced to an entirely new ecosystem backed with a plethora of amazing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.

Suppose you are planning to buy either of these two devices as a gift for someone. In that case, the Switch Lite will make a better option, considering the portability and all the factors we mentioned above (like the need to buy a PS5 to use PS Portal unless you already own one).

Nintendo PlayStation