PS5 Reviews: Best Console?
The PS5 has had supply issues since its release, but now that the console is available for purchase, is it the best option on the market? Let’s take a cross-section of PS5 reviews to find out.
The PS5 is a masterclass in almost every imaginable way . High performance, incredibly powerful SSD storage, and backward compatibility with existing games make it the best console on the market right now. Add to that incredibly fast performance, next-gen graphics and a slew of AAA gaming franchises , and it’s easy to see why Sony has won the console wars in 2022/23.
Pros:
Incredibly powerful
4K and 8K support
Has all the best AAA gaming franchises
Works very quietly
Market leading gaming controller
Flawless and super useful software
The user interface is amazing
Playstation 5
PS5 is not just a more powerful version of PS4 Pro. Sony has completely revamped the console, changing almost every aspect and component of the system – from the external case to the software.
After a complete overhaul, the PS5 is as extreme as it gets. And this is always risky. But it appears Sony’s vision was timely and extraordinarily well executed.
But it wasn’t limited to the console itself; no, Sony also took a more traditional approach to the launch of the console itself. This ensured that many exclusive games were available at launch .
The company then partnered with gaming companies to ensure a steady stream of exclusive games during its first two years of sale, helping the PS5 stay in the headlines and at the forefront of gamers’ minds.
Of course, the entire platform was tainted by the fact that millions of potential users couldn’t actually buy it when it was released.
The global chip shortage has made purchasing a PS5 nearly impossible for the vast majority of people.
And this saga lasted a long, painfully long time – both for Sony’s profits and for gamers eager to try the new console. Fortunately, the situation has now improved and the PS5 is easier to find in stores and online.
But is the PS5 worth buying? Is it future-proof? Are the games really that much better than those on the PS4 Pro?
To answer these questions, we first need to take a look at what makes the PS5 so powerful – its specs and hardware – and then we’ll look at a few reviews to get a clearer picture of its positives and negatives.
PS5 Specifications and Hardware
Price: $499 (standard edition), $399 (digital edition)
PROCESSOR: 3.5 GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
RAM: 16 GB GDDR6
Storage: 825GB custom 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
The PS5’s design differs from previous PlayStation consoles, which were typically boxy and monochrome. Instead, the PS5 features a curved shape with two contrasting colors that create a striking visual effect. The overall shape of the console resembles a tower, with one side higher than the other.
At first glance, many people might assume that the taller side of the PS5 is meant to be positioned vertically. However, Sony has stated that the console can be used in any position. When placed horizontally, both sides of the console rest on a flat surface.
One of the PS5’s most attractive design elements is its lighting system. The console is equipped with blue LED lights that illuminate various parts of the device when it is turned on.
This lighting system not only looks cool, but also serves as an indicator for various functions such as updates being available or games being.
Another notable design feature of the PS5 is its size.
The console is larger than previous PlayStation models and takes up more space on entertainment centers or shelves.
This may be seen as a disadvantage for those with limited space, but can also be seen as an advantage for those who want their gaming setup to impress.
The PS5’s bezel can be removed to reveal an expansion slot for additional storage space using an M.2 SSD (sold separately). This option allows users to customize the amount of memory without having to replace the entire console.
PlayStation 5 DualSense controller
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The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller is a significant upgrade over the previous DualShock controller.
The design of the DualSense controller is sleek and futuristic, with a two-tone color scheme to match the PS5 console.
One of the most notable features of the DualSense controller is its haptic feedback technology.
This feature allows players to experience different sensations in their hands while playing, making the gaming experience more immersive than ever before.
For example, if a player is driving a car in a game, they can feel the hum of the engine through the vibrations of the controller.
Adaptive Triggers
The adaptive triggers on the DualSense controller are another exciting addition. These triggers can adjust their resistance depending on what’s happening in the game, allowing players to feel like they’re drawing a bowstring or shooting a pistol. This level of immersion gives players more control over the gameplay and makes games more realistic.
The buttons on the DualSense controller are similar to those on previous PlayStation controllers, but have been slightly redesigned to improve functionality. The Share button has been replaced with a Create button, which allows players to take screenshots and videos, share them online or with friends, and even create GIFs from their gameplay footage.
The touchpad on the DualSense controller is unchanged from its predecessor, but still serves as an important input method for many games. Additionally, there is now a built-in microphone that allows players to communicate with others without using an external headset.
Rechargeable battery
Another new feature of the DualSense controller is the built-in rechargeable battery. This eliminates the need for AA batteries and makes it easier for players to keep their controllers charged and ready for gaming sessions.
The battery life of this new controller has also been improved compared to previous PlayStation controllers.
Finally, like all PlayStation controllers before it, the DualSense features motion sensing technology that allows players to control games by moving the controller in space.
This feature has been used in many popular games such as Gran Turismo and LittleBigPlanet, and continues to be an important part of the PlayStation gaming experience.
Overall, Sony clearly put a lot of thought into the development of this new version of its iconic PlayStation controller.
With innovative features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, along with improved battery life and charging capabilities, Sony has effectively created the best gaming controller we’ve seen to date.
This thing is fucking incredible.
PS5 hardware
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Apart from all the above specs, the PS5 has features like built-in WiFi 6, larger fans and vents for better heat management, plenty of USB ports – both micro and Type C, as well as HDMI ports and an Ethernet port for internet connectivity .
Conversely, Microsoft’s Xbox Series X only supports WiFi 5. Again, Sony is playing the long game here, and when you look at the system from a macro perspective, this approach really starts to pay dividends.
SSD for PS5
In terms of storage, you have a powerful 825GB SSD of which 667.2GB is available to store all your games and media files. There is support for external SSD/HDD drives, but only for PS4 games (which is strange).
You also have the option to upgrade your internal SSD with M.2 SSDs, which were added in September 2021 after initially being unavailable. And it’s a useful addition, too, because PS5 games are so damn massive that you’ll blow through 800GB of storage in no time.
CPU & GPU
Beyond that, what really makes the PS5 so special—and so very, very powerful—is its GPU.
The PS5 GPU was custom designed by AMD and features an RDNA 2-based GPU that delivers up to 10.28 teraflops of power at variable frequencies up to 2.23 GHz.
What this all means is that the PS5 can produce next-gen graphics using things like ray tracing and significantly higher resolutions, which combine to make PS5 games look damn good compared to PS4 and PS4 Pro games.
The PS5 processor is an eight-core AMD Zen 2 processor that supports variable frequencies up to 3.5 GHz. All this means is that the processor can reduce its power when it doesn’t need the “full components” to run a game or application, which in turn makes it a more power-efficient system.
Sony has also included 16GB of GDDR6 RAM in the PS5 to ensure smooth operation of the PS5’s settings and menus, as well as its games.
Combine all of this and you’re looking at one of the most powerful consoles ever made.
This is a quick look at what’s new with the PS5 in terms of specs and hardware. But to get a better idea of how good the PS5 really is, let’s now look at the cross-sectional PS5 reviews to see what other reviewers thought of the console.
After we’ve gone through our PS5 reviews, we’ll have a recap session at the end where I’ll go over all the PROS and CONS of the PS5 to find out if it’s worth buying a PS5 over, say, an Xbox Series X console or a Nintendo Switch.
Is PS5 worth it?
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Whatever you call it, if you want the best gaming experience in 2023 and beyond on console, you MUST look at the PS5.
Or Xbox Series X.
For now, these are the only two games in town when it comes to future-focused next-gen console games. Both are incredibly powerful, both support 8K gaming, and both have a wide and growing selection of games, as well as new ways to deliver them.
PS5 vs Xbox Series X
But personally, I think the PS5 has a slight edge over the Xbox Series X. Sony has really improved the PS5 controller, the PS5 software is now more useful and fun than ever, it looks and functions much better than on the PS4, and Sony has a significant number of more exclusive games available for their platform.
This doesn’t mean that the Xbox is inferior in any way, it’s not.
But from a purely entertainment standpoint, right now I think gamers will get more out of the PS5 than the Xbox Series X.
Aside from how they look, the Xbox Series X and PS5 are very similar on the inside. They have noticeably similar hardware and specs, with the odd difference here and there.
Microsoft has unveiled some big, super-helpful changes to the Xbox experience that will impress everyone who encounters them.
But for most people, the most important thing is access to exclusive games, and in that context, Sony currently wins, so right now we’d say the PS5 is better than the Xbox Series X.
The PS5 is a masterclass in almost every imaginable way . High performance, incredibly powerful SSD storage, and backward compatibility with existing games make it the best console on the market right now. Add to that incredibly fast performance, next-gen graphics and a slew of AAA gaming franchises , and it’s easy to see why Sony has won the console wars in 2022/23.
Pros:
Incredibly powerful
4K and 8K support
Has all the best AAA gaming franchises
Works very quietly
Market leading gaming controller
Flawless and super useful software
The user interface is amazing.