PlayStation Phone: Our closest look yet

By Molly McHugh January 26, 2011

It isn’t supposed to be announced until next month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but Engadget has released nearly enough details and images to keep us satisfied until then. The site would only say it “managed to get hold of the real deal,” but seeing as the official introduction is still in the near future, nothing is entirely set in stone just yet.

The phone is called the Xperia Play, so no more of this PlayStation Phone nonsense. It’s an HSDPA device with Gingerbread OS as well as a 4-inch multitouch 854×480 LCD (same as the X10). Engadget claimed some awkward handling with the device, but noted that button location could easily be modified before February 14. By all accounts, it’s an overall upgrade from the PSP Go.

It is more than capable of handling video playback, and all the games tested “ran pretty well” according to the site. Check out the video below to see it in action. No amount of tearing apart the Xperia Play could reveal what sort of chipset the phone is working off of though, so that remains a mystery.

What we’re seeing looks nearly identical to the video the surfaced earlier this month, which there was some concern over being a Chinese knock-off. Everything coming to light seems accurate, but keep in mind that Sony has yet to announce the exist of Xperia Play. That said, MWC is getting closer and closer.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…

Gaming

PlayStation VR2 production reportedly paused by Sony

PlayStation VR2 headset on blue background.

Sony is reportedly pausing production of the PlayStation VR2 headsets because it has a backlog of unsold headsets.

This report comes from Bloomberg, which claims that PSVR2 sales have slowed every quarter since its February 2023 release, causing stocks of the device to build up. It says Sony has produced 2 million headsets but reportedly hasn't sold through them yet. As a result, it's apparently pausing the production on new units until it works through some of that backlog, according to Bloomberg's anonymous sources.

Gaming

Does PlayStation 5 have a web browser?

Playstation 5 with a controller.

Sony added a bunch of great functionality to PS5, but one thing that's missing is a web browser. Unlike its predecessor, PS4, there's not a standard web browser you can access from your home screen. That's a bit of a letdown, as it feels like a huge step back from what was available years ago.

Thankfully, all is not lost. With a little elbow grease and a lot of ingenuity, you can access a web browser on PS5. The process is quite convoluted, and it's not the most user-friendly browser, but it's possible to surf the web on your fancy new-gen console.

Gaming

PlayStation Portal restocks — Can you buy the console today?

A PlayStation Portal plays Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

The PlayStation Portal continues to be in huge demand meaning stock is as hard to come by as the PS5 was three years ago. Right now, no major retailers have stock online but that doesn't mean that couldn't change in a moment. With stock coming and going fast, it's a good idea to keep an eye on certain retailers to see when things change for the better.

The PlayStation Portable allows you to connect to your PlayStation 5 via Remote Play over Wi-Fi, so it’s perfect for portable gaming whether you’re traveling or simply sitting on the couch with the family, away from your beloved console. Since the PlayStation Portal launched, it’s been tough to find stock. Much like how hard it was to find the PlayStation 5 once upon a time, the PlayStation Portal is tricky to track down. That’s where we’re here to help with some insight on where to look, as well as what to consider for a PlayStation Portal alternative if you just can’t wait.
Where can I buy the PlayStation Portal?
As of March 8, no major retailers have stock of the PlayStation Portal. This could change though so it's important to have a list ready of all the major retailers that are likely to get more stock. We can't guarantee when that will be as this is an incredibly highly sought-after item but you can be assured that restocks will happen eventually. Here are all the retailers you should check out on your quest for a PlayStation Portal.