PlayStation Portal restock tracker - the latest tips on where to check for stock

Image of the PlayStation Portal handheld gaming device
(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

PlayStation Portal restock tracker update - 8.45am ET / 1.45pm GMT, January 21

Target is the retailer that has been setting off stock alerts most consistently in the past day or so, so we'd recommend trying there today, along with Best Buy (given both retailers' forms with location-specific stock). We have seen a few restocks across the US this week, however, with Newegg and PlayStation Direct offering stock, it could pay to check there for any reappearing inventory. After these places, head on over to Amazon, GameStop, Walmart, Sam's Club, and Macy's to complete the checks.

The UK hasn't seen a proper PlayStation Portal restock for weeks, it feels like, at this point now. As a result, with nothing going on, we just advise checking the usual retailers starting with Amazon and Currys, then trying Very, EE, and Game. Argos' listing page remains a total no-go still.

PS Portal Alternatives

A Nintendo Switch Lite, Backbone One, and Steam Deck on a blue background with big savings imagery

(Image credit: Future/Backbone/Nintendo/Valve)

If you want a gaming handheld, then there are plenty of PS Portal alternative devices to consider.

We've also got a guide to the best PlayStation Portal alternatives to look at right now too.

After some solid PlayStation Portal restock action just before Christmas, we've started 2024 in an eerily familiar position with low stock everywhere.

Anyway, with the launch of the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds in early December, and the upcoming PlayStation Pulse Elite headset, we're hoping Sony is going to see value in rapidly upping the output for the in-demand handheld device.

The lack of stock is giving us terrible flashbacks of 2020 and 2021 during the great PlayStation 5 stock shortages when the console first launched. But we're here to help, keeping an eye on the PlayStation Portal restock situation and updating our PS Portal stock tracker regularly.

We're always big advocates for persistence and patience, and this can come good, so we recommend sticking with trusted retailers like those on this page, and keep trying as you may well get lucky - and never pay the scalpers' prices! 

As a reminder of why we love the Portal, we think that it could be, for many folks, a revolutionary device, opening up extra gaming opportunities and time. It's proved so with me and I can't put it down - read more in our full PlayStation Portal review.

Where to buy PlayStation Portal - US

Check stock at Best Buy

Check stock at Best Buy
After a fleeting bit of stock recently, we still think it's worth checking in with Best Buy as it is regularly setting off stock alerts and has location-specific stock which could help some folk out. (Note: the below date is the last 'proper' restock that occurred - Best Buy still sets off stock alerts with regional inventory as we've regularly reported.)

Last restock: December 30

Check stock at Newegg

Check stock at Newegg
Out of the blue, and not on our bingo card, Newegg has had stock as recently as mid-January so is worth checking in on.

Last restock: January 17

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Check stock at Amazon
The go-to behemoth online retailer saw a PlayStation Portal restock in the past few days and keeps setting off stock alerts so it's definitely worth checking just in case any more inventory appears.

Last restock: January 3

Check stock at Walmart

Check stock at Walmart
We'd say it's not a bad idea to keep an eye on Walmart this week if you prefer to shop there, as we've seen stock flash up here relatively consistently.

Last restock: December 22

Check stock at PlayStation Direct

Check stock at PlayStation Direct
PlayStation Direct itself had stock on January 18 but has now sold out. Still worth checking for any returning inventory or cancelled orders though!

Last restock: January 18

Check stock at Target

Check stock at Target
Target has seen stock so is a worthwhile candidate to keep an eye on given the current state of affairs. We've also seen some members of the community utilize Target stores to nail down their Portal.

Last restock: December 31

Check stock at GameStop

Check stock at GameStop
The game-specialist retailer did have stock for a long while and has seen fluctuations in recent weeks so is worth a bookmark and keeping an eye on.

Last restock: December 20

Check stock at Antonline

Check stock at Antonline
The often-bundle-selling retailer is worth a look, but you're unlikely to find the Portal on its own here. Instead, it's definitely worth considering keeping tabs on this particular PS5 Slim bundle in case it comes back in stock and you can splash out.

Check stock at Sam's Club

Check stock at Sam's Club
This is one we saw pop up with stock briefly in December so have decided it's absolutely worth your time to check for restocks too - another retailer to give us an option is never a bad thing, after all.

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Check stock at Macy's
The enormous department store is absolutely worth checking out for Portal stock. Its listing page is live currently but it remains unavailable (obviously, sigh).

Where to buy PlayStation Portal - UK

Check stock Amazon

Check stock Amazon
You have to beware of resellers on Amazon now, with scalpers using it as a platform for pushing inflated PlayStation Portal prices - but if any big retailer is going to get stock then it's a fair chance it'll be Amazon.

Last restock: January 8

Check stock at Currys

Check stock at Currys
Always worth a look, Currys reportedly had stock on January 11, but it was, once again, very fleeting.

Last restock: January 10

Check stock at Very

Check stock at Very
Another popular retailer in the UK for gaming, Very too has no stock right now it seems, but it has been coming and going. One to keep an eye on.

Last restock: December 12

Check stock at Game

Check stock at Game
Always worth a look given it's the UK's only real gaming-focused retailer. We've seen stock flashes in recent weeks but nothing too major, admittedly.

Last restock: December 31

Check stock at PlayStation Direct

Check stock at PlayStation Direct
Stock at the official PlayStation Direct UK storefront has been fleeting, to say the least. Unfortunately, there's no helpful message as to when to check back here either, unlike the US page.

Last restock: December 8

Check stock at Argos

Check stock at Argos
The PlayStation Portal listing page at Argos has been taken down now, which is a bad sign, but we'll update this page soon after that changes.

Last restock: December 18

Check stock at Argos

Check stock at Argos
The PlayStation Portal listing page at Argos has been taken down now, which is a bad sign, but we'll update this page soon after that changes.

We'll do our best to keep the page updated to direct you to the best places to try as stock levels change. If you're still on the fence and need some more focused help working out whether the device is for you, then check out our guide to should you buy a PlayStation Portal, as well as our PlayStation Portal vs Backbone One comparison.

PlayStation Portal alternatives

If you're really keen to pick up a remote play device or a handheld games console like the PlayStation Portal, but need something soon, as a gift for the holidays, or want to bypass the limbo of there being no stock, then we've got the latest, lowest prices below on some fine alternatives. 

Remember though that none of these alternatives will do exactly what the PlayStation Portal offers - streaming PS5 games over the internet from your PS5 to a dedicated handheld device. You can recreate this in principle with the BackBone One controller and your mobile phone, but it's worth reiterating that the below aren't like-for-like replacements.

From the Nintendo Switch Lite to the Backbone One controller, and more, there are some great handheld devices going right now for you to consider instead (and alongside) the PlayStation Portal.

Where to buy PlayStation Portal - FAQs

Image of the PlayStation Portal handheld gaming device

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

How much does the PlayStation Portal remote player cost?

The PlayStation Portal remote player costs $199.99 in the US and £199.99 in the UK. Variations in price will be found across different regions as stock becomes more widely available and rolled out.

Can you use the PlayStation Portal away from home?

Yes! While Sony has largely pushed the PlayStation Portal as a device to use on the same Wi-Fi network as your PS5, if you have a strong enough internet connection (be it Wi-Fi or 5G) then you will be able to use it away from home. I tested this for our review and have consistently used it on 5G - the connection takes a little longer to 'talk' to your PS5 but it works!

Is the PlayStation Portal sold out?

As it stands at around 8.45am ET on January 21, the PlayStation Portal remains out of stock at all retailers.

When will PlayStation Portal stock return?

It feels a bit like reliving the PS5 stock shortage all over again - we are relying on flashes of stocks without any real official word. The grains of hope we can cling to right now are the consistent restocks at the likes of Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart which might get flashes of inventory.

Do you need a PS5 to use a PlayStation Portal?

Yes, you absolutely need a PS5 to use a PlayStation Portal. The Portal is exactly that: a window into and a means of mirroring your PS5 so it can only be used in tandem with a PlayStation 5 console.

Looking for other portables? Check out our guide to the best handheld game consoles you can get right now, and remember, you might want one of the best wired gaming headsets or a wired PS5 headset to team with your Portal too.

Rob Dwiar
Deputy Editor, TechRadar Gaming

Rob is Deputy Editor of TechRadar Gaming, a video games journalist, critic, editor, and writer, and has years of experience gained from multiple publications. Prior to being TechRadar Gaming's Deputy Editor, he was a longstanding member of GamesRadar+, being the Commissioning Editor for Hardware there for years, while also squeezing in a short stint as Gaming Editor at WePC before joining TechRadar Gaming. He is also a freelance writer on tech, gaming hardware, video games, gardens, and landscapes and is crowdfunding a book on video game landscapes that you can back and pre-order now too.