Sony never expected to make a profit from PlayStation Portal: the device's purpose is to satisfy a specific group of players

This was stated by Sony Interactive Entertainment's Senior Vice President of Platform Experience.

PS Portal Is the Perfect PS5 Companion (For Some)

PS4 outselling Xbox One by 1 million consoles

Sony Thinks You'll Buy A PlayStation 4 Alongside Your Nintendo Switch

Sony PlayStation 4 Hidden CPU Core Unlocked

Does Nintendo Have A Handheld Future Beyond The Switch? Yes, Say The Experts

The Steam Deck Replaces the PlayStation and Xbox, Not the Switch

PlayStation Portable / Useful Notes - TV Tropes

The Steam Deck Replaces the PlayStation and Xbox, Not the Switch

Sony addresses PlayStation 4 'blue light of death