Back to the future with PS5

The PS5 has been around for more than two years and keeps getting better with a larger library of exclusive titles and a variety of stunning peripherals.

The PS5 includes cutting-edge haptics, a quick SSD, and rich 3D audio in addition to 4K gaming. A system that is fully prepared for next-generation, or even current generation, gaming is delivered by combining all of these factors and more. The console is so large and has a contentious design, therefore there is a small caution that it might not be appealing to everyone. However, it's still a strong platform that's definitely worth looking for a PS5 refill for.

SPECS

CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2

GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU

RAM: 16GB GDDR6

Storage: Custom 825GB SSD

Expansion: NVMe M.2 SSD slot

Disc drive: 4K Blu-ray player

Size: 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1 inches

Weight: 9.9 lbs

Design

Although the PS5 has been extensively explored, it is a very enormous piece of technology. Including the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro, Sony's 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1-inch console eclipses all game consoles released in the last ten years. It dwarfs the Xbox Series X, its new next-generation rival, and makes the Xbox Series S appear like a toy.

The PS5's enormous chassis enables it to deliver some serious performance while largely remaining cool and silent (which we'll discuss in more detail later), but its size may be an issue for people who have small entertainment spaces.

If you want to stand your PS5 upright, you'll probably need a separate tiny table unless you want to place it on the floor. I was able to fit the PS5 in my entertainment center in a horizontal arrangement, but just barely. As a result, before you set up a PS5 at home, you should estimate the space you have available.

In relation to positioning, the PS5 comes with a retractable stand that enables you to set the enormous console either vertically or horizontally. The stand clamps onto the PS5's rear port area in horizontal mode and screws into the console's bottom in vertical mode (the PS5 comes with a screw, but no tool to screw it in).

It would be wonderful if the PS5 came with a tool for unscrewing the base, but I found it to be simple enough to attach and detach with a quarter. With the base attached, the system stands up well in vertical mode, but I discovered the base to be much more erratic in horizontal orientation. Before I could get it to lay flat and securely on the base, it took me a few tries. I ultimately managed to get the PS5 to remain horizontal in my entertainment centre, but the fact that the console readily slipped off the base unless it was in the ideal position makes me wonder.

Even so, I'll probably play the PS5 with the screen horizontal for the majority of the time out of concern that I'll accidently topple the absurdly tall chassis when it's on my table (especially when my energetic nephews are here).

You can also spend money on official PS5 covers starting on December 13, 2021, which will alter the colour of the console's faceplates. They won't change the general look of the system, but at least you won't be limited to using only white.

Interface

Owners of PS4 consoles will be accustomed to the home screen's horizontal row of tiles showcasing your most recent games. It's a nice visual touch that when you highlight a game, its art will cover the full home screen and the music will play in the background. The convenient Explore tab displays news and updates, and the Game Library option enables me to start downloading my PS4 game library right away. The Create button on the PS5 can be quickly tapped to record videos, take screenshots, or stream to Twitch or YouTube.

Overall, I enjoy how clean the PS5 software appears, although I do wish there was a feature for grouping your games into folders, as there is on the PS4. While it's interesting to have the backdrop change depending on the game you have selected, I'm amazed there isn't a way to set unique backgrounds in its place. At least the PS5 logo can be changed to resemble the recognisable red, yellow, green, and blue emblem found on prior models of the machine using a quick trick.

The PlayStation button now displays a control centre that allows you to navigate between apps, view your friends, check alerts, check the battery life of your controller, and more, so longtime PS4 users may need to break some muscle memory.

Software that is quick and tidy is fantastic, but when you start playing a game, the PS5 interface really comes to life. While playing a PS5 game, tapping the PlayStation button brings up the Activities menu, which displays details such as the current status of your objective, a list of trophies you can pursue, or a list of in-game activities you can start right away.

Performance

The PS5 offers some of the best performance ever from a gaming system thanks to its potent 8-core AMD Zen 2 processor, 10.3 teraflops of graphics capability, and an absurdly quick bespoke SSD. And even though I've only played a small number of games made specifically to take advantage of the PS5's capability, I'm immediately amazed with the quality, framerate, and—most importantly—loading times that Sony's platform can provide.

Compatibility

Nearly all PS4 titles are compatible with the PS5, which is a significant improvement from Sony's complete lack of backwards compatibility the previous generation. Nearly all of the PS4 titles I tried on the PS5 played faster and performed better than they did on my launch PS4, including The Last of Us Part II, God of War, Mortal Kombat 11, Tetris Effect, and Resident Evil 2. My PS5 played both digital and PS4 disc-based games without a hitch, and the 4K Blu-ray drive on the system was perfectly fine for playing my physical movies.

Games with better resolution or frame rate modes gain the most from Sony's new platform because the PS5 enables you to take advantage of whatever PS4 Pro advancements a game offers. Coming from a launch PS4, being able to finally appreciate God of War's high frame rate mode or play Tetris Effect in 4K seemed like it was almost worth the price of admission (the aforementioned load time boosts certainly don't hurt, either).

As I mashed buttons in Mortal Kombat, other wired controllers, like my Hori Fightpad and Victrix Pro FS Fight Stick, also performed flawlessly. Just bear in mind that you can't use the DualShock 4 with PS5-only games because it only supports backwards-compatible PS4 games.

More recently, a new patent application submitted by PlayStation designers gives you yet another reason to buy a PS5. It suggests that the PS5 will eventually be able to run PS1, PS2, and PS3 games.

Apps

Almost all entertainment apps are available on the PS5, including Disney Plus, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and Apple TV Plus, which is new to the PlayStation ecosystem. In my testing, all of these apps performed just like their PS4 counterparts, which isn't a terrible thing.

PS VR2

The PlayStation VR 2, an improved version of the PlayStation VR for the PS4, was released by Sony in February 2023.

The PS VR2 offers new titles to test out along with even more power and a simpler user interface while still being somewhat compatible with the PS5 in comparison to the older headset. In the following months, more games will receive VR updates, so if you don't mind spending an extra $500 or so, you may use what has proven to be one of the greatest VR headsets available.

Ports

A fairly normal selection of ports are available on the PS5, along with several useful modern conveniences. A USB Type-C SuperSpeed port and a Hi-Speed USB Type-A port are provided up front. It's good to finally see a console with out-of-the-box USB-C connectivity, especially for attaching contemporary accessories and storage drives.

Two SuperSpeed USB-A connections, an Ethernet jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an AC adaptor are all located at the back. (For suggestions on TVs featuring HDMI 2.1, see the best gaming TVs.) People who own high-end audio equipment with optical connectors may find it disappointing that the PS5 has removed the optical audio port from the PS4. However, some businesses, like Astro with their Astro A20 headset, already sell optical-to-HDMI splitters.

By opening up the console, you may access the PCle 4.0 M.2 expansion slot if you wish to add more storage to the 825GB of SSD storage that comes with the PS5. You must have an SSD that satisfies Sony's fairly stringent requirements(opens in new tab), such as the Western Digital SN850, Samsung 980 Pro, or the future Nextorage M.2 NVMe SSD made by Sony.

The expansion slot was closed at launch, but the most recent PS5 software update has unlocked it, allowing owners to install a second SSD for additional capacity. While the feature was still in development, we tried it out ourselves and had some great results.

The SSD expansion slot on the system gives the PS5 another weapon to use against the Xbox Series X. Microsoft's console needs the purchase of an expensive proprietary SSD card in order to add more internal storage, but Sony's SSD expansion method lets you choose from a variety of expensive third-party versions. Standard external hard drives can be used with the PS5, but only to transfer your digital PS4 games or save data.