PS5 One Minute Review
Our expectations for the PS5 were extremely high after the incredible success of the PS4. Thankfully, Sony's next-gen console delivers and improves on its predecessor in almost every way.
The PS5 DualSense controller, Sony's new smart pad with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, is nothing short of a revelation. The combination of more powerful hardware, a new user interface, fast loading times with SSDs, and immersive 3D audio capabilities is a generational leap from the PS4. Once inside, it will be difficult to go back.
And if you haven't been able to get into the PS5 ecosystem for the past two years, the next Black Friday 2022 sale period in November 25th it could be your chance. And while PS5 discounts are extremely hard to come by, we'll be keeping track of all the deals in our Black Friday PS5 deals hub.
It can't be helped, however, that the console itself is an eyesore, and its quirky appearance won't suit everyone. The advantage of this is that the gigantic size of the PS5 ensures that it is quiet and runs smoothly. You can still position the console vertically or horizontally, though we really wish you didn't need support when it's on its side. Most importantly, we haven't encountered any major hardware issues since launch, such as hardware failure or storage corruption.
One area where the PS5 has been slow to adopt is support for the best 120Hz TVs with HDMI 2.1. However, games that support 120fps continue to grow, including first-party and third-party hits like Horizon Forbidden West, Fortnite, and Ghostwire Tokyo.
Equally fantastic is the addition of VRR support to the PS5. VRR (or Variable Refresh Rate) keeps the action smooth on compatible TVs. With PS5 VRR enabled, the console can maintain high frame rates without screen tearing and with little to no impact on overall performance. It's an amazing feature that we're really excited to see on PS5.
However, you won't need a high-end TV to feel the benefits of the PS5's substantial power. You can still enjoy blazing fast load times, significantly better performance, and a higher level of visual fidelity in games new and old.
From a simpler setup to a thoughtful user interface, Sony has also revamped key elements of the user experience with some nice extras to boot: PS Plus Essential members can enjoy a selection of select games right out of the box, while that Plus Extra and Premium have access to a catalog of games and libraries of additional classic catalogs. Backwards compatibility also ensures that your old collection of the best PS4 games works from day one.
The end result is a console that wows us, which is ultimately bolstered by the compelling lineup of exclusive PlayStation 5 games that continues to grow.
- Sony PlayStation 5 at Adorama for €499.99 (opens in a new tab)
We would have liked to see more first-party games at launch (there were only four if you include the built-in game Astro's Playroom). It would also have been wonderful to see additional support for older generations of PlayStation titles such as PS2 and PS3. Still, PlayStation 5 looks like a solid investment and with an ever-growing library of the best PS5 games, we're sure the experience will only get better with time.
The library of compelling titles has certainly grown since the launch of the PlayStation 5. Returnal takes full advantage of the console's feature set, Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 look impressive on next-gen hardware, while Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a visual spectacle that has to be seen to be believed.
PS5 a year later
We've updated our PS5 review to reflect our first impressions after spending almost two years with the console. Sony has made some nice changes through system updates and the quality of their exclusive games continues to impress. However, there are some outstanding issues. The lack of 1440p support is still frustrating, but we'd still recommend picking up a PS5 if you can find one.
The PS5 is for people ready to jump into the next generation of video games, along with PS4 owners who don't want to give up their game collection. It's a console that seamlessly bridges the gap between last-gen and new, so you'll probably never need to reset your PS4 again.
There are great upgrades like the super-fast NVMe SSD and powerful GPU that allow for higher frame rates and ray tracing. But you'll also appreciate subtle details like the controller's built-in microphone that can serve as a quick replacement for a headset. The PS5 seems to have been designed to be easy to use and pure power.
The PS5 Digital Edition is exactly the same as the standard PS5, but it does away with the 4K Blu-Ray drive to offer a cheaper price of £399 / £389.99 / AU$649.95 and a more symmetrical look. We've pitted the two PS5 consoles against each other in this PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition comparison, so you can find out which one is right for you.
Whichever model of PS5 you choose, however, we can wholeheartedly recommend the console as a welcome upgrade over the PS4 and an exciting portal to next-gen gaming. Read on for our full PS5 review.
Watch our PS5 video review below:
PS5 review: price and release date
- PS5 release date: Available Now (Released November 12/19, 2020)
- PS5 price: €499.99 / €479.99 / AU$799.95
- PS5 Digital Edition price: €399.99 / €389.99 / AU$649.95
The PS5 launched in North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand on November 12, 2020. It arrived two days after the launch of Microsoft's next-generation consoles, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. For the rest the world, the console became available a week later, on November 19.
In terms of PS5 pricing, it was originally $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95 for the standard version of the console with a 4K Blu-ray disc player. However, if that's more than you want to spend, there's also the PS5 Digital Edition, which is exactly the same, apart from removing the disc drive entirely. At launch it cost $399,99/£359,99/A$599,95, a savings of $100/£90/A$150 over the standard model.
The PS5 is more expensive than the launch price of the PS4, PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro, which cost €399.99, but arrived seven and four years ago respectively, and you get a generational leap in hardware here for €100 more. The PS5 is still expensive, don't get me wrong, but the price increase seems justified for what you get.
However, much like the Oculus Quest 2, we've seen the PS5 suffer a price hike, with Sony blaming it for skyrocketing inflation around the world. The US is unaffected, but has risen to €479,99 / €549,99 / AU$799,95 for the standard PS5 and €389,99 / €449,99 / €649,95 for the PS5 digital.
However, Sony isn't the only console maker with new hardware on the block; You should also consider the Xbox Series X/S, which is the closest competitor to Sony's PlayStation 5. Priced at €499 / £449 / AU$749 and €299 / £249 / AU$499 respectively, that makes the PS5 more expensive than Microsoft's latest consoles, and Xbox won't follow PlayStation with price hikes. . Not yet, anyway.
We have delivered our verdict in their respective reviews linked above, so we won't spend much time discussing them here. But if you're interested in how these two stack up, be sure to check out our PS5 vs Xbox Series X breakdown for more details.
PS5 review: Design
- Huge for a modern game console
- Space age aesthetics polarize
- But size means more room for ventilation and a bigger fan.
If game consoles had weight categories, the PS5 would be in the heavyweight division. We measure it around 39 x 10,4 x 26 cm (H x W x D), although the curved surfaces make it difficult to get an exact measurement. The PS5 isn't light either. It weighs 4,5 kg, which gives it a noticeable weight when you pick it up.
With these measurements in mind, it's easy to see how the PlayStation 5 is the biggest console Sony has ever made, and it's on the verge of being too big for a device that's supposed to sit under your TV. Many will need to rethink their current setup to accommodate Sony's new machine, and it's a problem no one should worry about when buying a new console.
As for the colors and shape of the console, they can also be a bit polarizing. Some of us on the team love the design of the PS5, while others hate the design of the PS5. However, there's no denying that its mammoth size and two-tone color scheme demand attention in any home. Fortunately, since launch, Sony has allowed us to buy new skins for the PS5 console, which come in five different colors.
One element that is a lovely touch, and universally appreciated by the TechComparison team, is the system's subtle lighting effect, which creates a soothing tone when the console is in operational or idle mode.
The light strip adds to the PS5's space-age look and is a nice touch of continuity from the PS4. Like the PlayStation 4, when the console is in rest mode, the light turns orange, and when the PS5 turns on, it changes from blue to white.
We're a bit taken aback by Sony's choice to put shiny plastic in the center of the console's spine, especially since that's where the front-facing USB ports are. After over a year of use, we can confirm that the plastic can get scratched over time, although we were extremely careful when plugging any devices into the front of the console.
We feared this was the case when we first reviewed the PS5, and we're a bit surprised that Sony didn't consider this to happen during development. The glossy finish is also a great magnet for dust and fingerprints, making the choice even more perplexing. Fortunately, cleaning your PS5 is relatively easy.
Due to its curves and large size, it is not just a matter of putting the console down and playing once...