Sony finally adds 1440p support on PS5. But you'll only be able to try it out if you're signed up for the PS5 beta program.
Many PS5 owners have been eagerly awaiting 1440p support ever since the console launched. And while it's currently only available through the PS5 beta program, Sony has confirmed (opens in a new tab) plans to roll out the feature globally "later this year."
Other new features added to the beta include player-created game lists and a menu for comparing stereo and 3D audio. A variety of new social features have also been added. These include screen sharing requests and notifications for games you can play. All in all, this is a pretty substantial PS5 beta update.
How to enable 1440p output on PS5
If you're enrolled in the PS5 beta program, you can go to your console's settings to set the resolution to 1440p.
In the Settings menu, go to "Display & Video" followed by the "Video Output" submenu. Under "Resolution and Frequency," select "Resolution," then 1440p from the dropdown menu.
If you are not sure if your display supports 1440p, you can select "Test 1440p output" in the same menu. If the test displays successfully, you are ready to continue.
Why is 1440p important on PS5
1440p resolution is more than a happy medium between HD and 4K. Some of the best PS5 games support native 1440p resolution, like Final Fantasy 14. When these games are played on a 1440p screen, they look much sharper. This is especially true for smaller 1440p monitors. (If you're looking to switch from a TV to a monitor, these are the best monitors for PS5.)
What's equally nice is that games at native 4K resolutions can downscale to 1440p. In this case, you can benefit from higher frame rates and anti-aliasing that creates an overall smoother image that helps remove sharp or jagged edges on 3D objects.
Unfortunately, Sony seems to have missed a key opportunity with its 1440p. Resolution settings will not work with PS5 VRR, another long-awaited feature that was added a few months ago. This is especially puzzling given that VRR supports 1080p and 4K resolution settings on console. Hopefully this can be resolved by the time 1440p resolution rolls out to PS5 owners around the world.
Ultimately, we're happy that 1440p support is finally on PS5, even if it's limited in capacity at the moment. It's a feature that Xbox Series X|S consoles have had since their launch, and its omission from the PS5 has always been perplexing. Fortunately, that's one less thing Sony has to make up for now. Or at least it will be when it comes out of beta testing.