Since the PS5 was released almost a year ago, several games have been released, making it worth checking out Sony's latest console. Sony sold millions of PS5 consoles already, including 4.5 million in 2020.
Beyond performance, the PS5 hopes to continue Sony's tradition of delivering top-tier exclusives with its lineup of upcoming PlayStation 5 games. The PS5 system will feature exclusive PS5 games and cross-platform games confirmed as upcoming PS5 titles, which is currently a fascinating list.
Our guide has everything you need to know about Sony's new PlayStation 5 console, whether you're looking to buy one or already own one and experience the future of console gaming.
PS5 Price
We've got everything you need to know about the PS5 price – $499 or £449 for the standard model, and $399 or £349 for the Digital Edition – to all the secrets of the PS5 design, and which PS5 accessories you should add before you check out.
PS5 Release date
Sony released the PS5 on the following dates and regions back in 2020:
November 12 (US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea)
November 19 (Rest of the world)
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz (variable frequency) |
| GPU | Ray Tracing Acceleration Up to 2.23 GHz (10.3 TFLOPS) |
| GPU Architecture | AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine |
| Memory/Interface | 16GB GDDR6/256-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448GB/s |
| Internal Storage | Custom 825GB SSD |
| External Storage | USB HDD Support |
| Expandable Storage | NVMe SSD Slot |
| PS5 Game Disc | Ultra HD Blu-ray, up to 100GB/disc |
| IO Throughput | 5.5GB/s (Raw), Typical 8-9GB/s (Compressed) |
| Optical Drive (optional) | Ultra HD Blu-ray (66G/100G) ~10xCAV BD-ROM (25G/50G) ~8xCAV BD-R/RE (25G/50G) ~8x CAV DVD ~3.2xCLV |
| Audio | “Tempest” 3D AudioTech |
| Video Out | HDMI Out port Support of 4K 120Hz TVs, VRR (specified by HDMI ver 2.1) |
| Dimensions | PS5 – 390mm x 104mm x 260mm (width x height x depth) PS5 Digital Edition – 390mm x 92mm x 260mm (width x height x depth) |
| Weight | PS5 – 4.5kg PS5 Digital Edition – 3.9kg |
| Power | PS5 – 350W PS5 Digital Edition – 340W |
| Input / Output | USB Type-A port (Hi-Speed USB) USB Type-A port (Super Speed USB 10Gbps) x2 USB Type-C port (Super Speed USB 10Gbps) |
| Networking | Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T) IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.1 |
PS5 Performance
PS5 offers stunning 4K performance, lightning-fast load times, and a revolutionary controller that makes gaming more immersive and tactile. It plays nearly all PS4 games, and in many cases, it allows them to run and load faster than ever.
Compared to the PS4 Pro, the PS5 is significantly more powerful – its GPU and CPU are far more powerful. In addition, the next-gen console loads games faster than ever before, thanks to its internal NVMe SSD. The new DualSense controller is also a breakthrough.
PS5 Redesign
Early analyses of the new PlayStation 5 have revealed multiple changes to the console's internal components and criticized Sony for significantly reducing its cooling system.
Earlier this month, tech YouTuber Austin Evans obtained the updated PlayStation 5 model sold in Japan and Australia.
Taking the console apart, he discovered an updated fan design and minor changes to the Wi-Fi antennas, consistent with plans for a new wireless communication module mentioned in a Sony document earlier this year.
By far, the most significant change found in the teardown was the confirmation that the revised console weighs 300g less than the original model due to a significantly reduced heat sink.
PS5 Controller
DualSense, also known as the PS5 controller, is the successor to the DualShock controller. After months of rumors and patents hinting at its functionality, Sony revealed the DualSense PS5 controller in April, and now that we've experienced it, we can confirm it's magical.
While the DualSense differs from the DualShock, its design follows many of the same principles. It has a sleek white-on-black aesthetic instead of the usual jet-black default, but the input layout is roughly the same. The light bar on the back of the DualShock 4 is now split between the two sides of the central touchpad, and a Create button has replaced the Share button, but everything else is standard.
The inside of the DualSense features the most changes and improvements. Among the highlights are:
- The DualSense delivers “a variety of powerful sensations that you'll experience in your games, such as the grit in driving through mud.” The DualShock 4 had rumble capabilities, but the DualSense goes further with more subtle, varied feedback.
- The DualSense's L2 and R2 buttons can match the tension of in-game actions. It was Sony's example of drawing the string on a bow, but based on previous accounts, the same could be said of firing a heavy machine gun. Sony also claims to have tweaked the angle of the triggers relative to the whole controller.
- The Share button has been replaced, but the new Create button serves the same purpose. According to Sony, this button allows players to create “epic gameplay content to share with the world, or to enjoy for themselves alone.”
- The DualSense has a built-in microphone, so it's easy to hop into a chat with friends.
PS5 Backwards Compatibility: Can You Play PS4 Games on PS5?
PS5 software is backward compatible with PS4 software, so both physical and digital software will work on the next-generation system. You will access your PS4 purchases on PS5 if you use the same PSN account.
However, at the moment, you cannot play PS3, PS2, and PS1, even if they are in your PSN library.
PS5 [email protected] Resolution Support
The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X bring 120 frames per second to console gaming. Despite their primary focus on stable 4K 60fps playback (1440 x 60 on Series S,) they are capable of boosting the frame rate further.
PS5 [email protected] Resolution Support
An 8K logo on the PS5 box indicates that it supports this new Ultra HD resolution. With HDMI 2.1 technology, you get high-resolution and high frame-rate gaming, better than PS4 and PS4 Pro. The PS5 is the first console to support 8K gaming.
What's the difference between PS5 and PS5 digital?
In addition to the price, the most significant difference between the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and the standard PS5 is that the Digital Edition does not have a disc drive, while the standard PS5 does. The PS5 Digital Edition will only be able to play games that you've downloaded from the internet.