This latest console from Sony features standout hardware like an octa-core CPU, a custom GPU, and a fast solid-state drive (SSD).
That adds up to graphics at full 4K resolution with support for up to 120 frames per second, although, and let's be clear, most titles are capped at 60 frames.
Still, all of this offers a more responsive user interface, faster loading times for games, and better graphics across the board compared to a PS4 and previous consoles.
You can also choose a digital-only console for $ 399 or a console with a disk drive for $ 499, which really comes down to whether or not you prefer the physicality of the experience.
We have been testing the PS5 with a disc drive (the Standard Edition).
The combination of performance enhancements, advanced design, and a true next-generation controller make this a flagship console that will last for years.
The PS5 is big but futuristic in every way
Sony's PlayStation 5 design makes it worthy of being the centerpiece of any home entertainment setup.
First of all, there is the size: its tall stature (almost 15.5 inches) hints at the technology loaded inside.
Sony includes a motherboard that clips onto the back of the PS5, allowing you to stand it vertically or place it horizontally without scratching the outer casing.
The design of the PS5 resembles a flower.
It is a rectangular box with some edges that open.
Vertically, it blooms a bit with two sides peeling off like a petal.
Between those two side panels is the console itself, which has a glossy black finish on the front.
The top of the piece also glows, appearing white when the console is turned on and a yellowish orange for standby mode.
It's pretty stylish, with just two ports (one USB-A and one USB-C), a power button, and a floppy drive button.
Interestingly, the disk drive is tucked into the right panel when vertical (down when horizontal).
It looks quite classy on the side panel, which has a wavy formation.
The rear of the PlayStation 5 contains more vents and many ports: two USB-A ports, an Ethernet connector, HDMI output, and a power plug.
There is also a Kensington lock on the back.
Many of the preview photos we've seen have shown the PlayStation 5 as an all-white console, but it's actually a grayer white.
The left side panel features a dark black PlayStation logo (it's actually a cutout on the side panel that goes to the main black box inside).
It's very small to the human eye, but the design on the inside (which you can feel) are the iconic square, triangle, circle and X buttons.
Sony's new DualSense is the best controller we've ever tested
One of our qualms with Xbox was the controller;
how surprisingly for 2020 it still uses traditional AA batteries.
Sony, on the other hand, updated the DualSense controller that was first released with PS4, and it's one of the most impressive pieces of tech we've tested.
We'll go even further to say it's the best controller we've ever used.
All of this thanks to the technology inside.
The DualSense wireless controller looks modest.
It features a bicolor design with the same main color white and gray with mixed black.
It's textured on the rear, but not at a level that is distracting.
The D-pad and circular buttons are a bright, clear finish with excellent recoil.
Both the left and right sticks don't slide super easy, which is important.
You need to use some force, and this shines when you play, for example,
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Astro Playground, and Watch Dogs: Legion.
Most importantly, the upper triggers have pressure levels and have haptic technology.
It is the same feedback technology used in the iPhone or Apple Watch and allows you to better "feel" the scene.
For example, when swinging through New York in the aforementioned Spider-Man game, you can speed up the energy by pressing the full trigger on the left and slide with a lighter press on the right side.
Like the DualSense above, it has a rectangular touchpad in the center, which also has a physical click function.
In certain games, you can slide to control characters or surroundings, while a physical click can open a map.
There is also a strip of LEDs on each side.
Rounding out the DualSense, there is a speaker and microphone built into it.
And, thank goodness, there's a built-in lithium-ion battery inside that charges via USB-C.
There is even a long cable included in the box.
And with all these new features at the helm, Sony created Astro's Playroom to showcase all the new capabilities.
It is a complete game that comes pre-installed on all PS5 consoles.
We always appreciate more value, and a free game is quite nice.
It's fun, and as self-proclaimed nerds, we love that each level or set of courses is based on the hardware inside PlayStation 5. For example, the cooling spring fan sucks you into a world of fans and liquid cooling.
You will see all the capabilities of the controller such as using the trigger in conjunction with the motion sensor inside to position yourself and use enough force to bounce like a spring to another height.
This controller really feels next-gen and a step up from everything else.
That includes the Nintendo Switch (Joy-Cons controllers) as well as the Xbox family.
Fast performance and smooth gameplay
It took the PS5 just 9.6 seconds to display the PlayStation logo on the screen and 19.7 seconds to log in with our profile.
Pretty classy.
That's because the PlayStation 5 has an eight-core CPU that is paired with 16GB of RAM.
That's a lot of power, even more than the Xbox Series S, to run games and make the main interface responsive.
The GPU is a custom drive design with AMD and can achieve 10.28 teraflops.
That allows for 4K and 8K resolutions,
ray tracing,
and up to 120 frames per second.
This is slightly behind the Xbox Series X, Microsoft's $ 499 next-gen flagship console, but benchmarks and sheer hardware aren't everything.
And like the X Series, the PlayStation 5 is quite comparable to a gaming PC.
That's a trend we're going to hear about for a while.
And that means it has features like
ray tracing
, along with support for HDMI 2.1, AMD FreeSync, and HDR, which help in the graphics department.
You'll also find an 825GB SSD inside, although the actual storage is a bit less.
However, there are three ways to expand the storage: You can connect a USB drive, use an external hard drive, or add an NVME SSD in the expansion bay, but it is not as plug-and-play as the Xbox, with the dedicated slot. at the rear.
A PS5 game usually comes in at around 50GB, with some of the storage defaulting out of the box.
We weren't able to test an SSD inside, but we were able to test external drives.
Simply put, it's on par with using an external drive with a PS4 or even an Xbox One X. It's not ideal, but we also didn't experience as much latency and long load times as we did with previous-gen consoles.
As long as you keep pulling a connected drive, the internal CPU can read and extract data a little faster.
All of this hardware comes together for a smooth and responsive interface.
The one for PlayStation is minimalist.
You get two main tabs at the top: Games and Media, which essentially separate the main use cases for streaming and playback services.
In the Games tab, PlayStation doesn't waste time with nonsense.
You can view the titles you have downloaded and easily access the PlayStation Store.
Astro Playroom will
be installed out of the box and easy to play.
As you select each game, the wallpaper matches the title.
It's a nice touch.
There's also a universal search feature, easy access to settings, and the ability to open your PlayStation profile.
It is a standard interface and allows you to find what you need with ease.
Based on our tests, it was faster over the PS4, PS3, and Xbox One S.
When it came to actual games, Astro's Playroom took about seven seconds to launch and begin its intro video;
Within 25 seconds, we were able to press a button and start playing.
Pressing the PlayStation button while in a game quickly brings up a quick settings menu.
This way you can set network status, quickly change settings, and even access a quick switch feature.
Using that feature to open Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales introduced us to a game that started at 7.3 seconds and ended a long sequence of titles at 37 seconds.
In the game, all this power makes for a fun-filled experience.
Let's start with Miles Morales.
The game gives you the option of 30 frames per second with ray tracings.
The final result?
A much more realistic city without many interruptions during the game.
It also allows you to take full advantage of High Dynamic Range (HDR).
But let's be honest: 30 frames per second is not devastating.
That's why the second mode with 60 frames per second that lacks the graphical enhancements caught our eye.
It's a little less than 4K resolution right out of the box, but the TV can scale that up.
Opting for this mode offered a fast moving experience.
The bonus here was a much faster frame rate throughout the game, although you do lose some details in the environment.
We also played a few other titles like Watch Dogs: Legion, which beat the experience we had on the Xbox Series S. We didn't experience any crashes to begin with, and it was very smooth.
The quality was high and it really allowed us to appreciate this version of London, along with the ability to hack and make quick changes to the environment on the fly.
Marvel's Avengers also improved load times through the PS4 experience and delivered more picturesque graphics.
All the games looked great on a large number of televisions.
What we have not yet been able to prove
We haven't been able to fully explore the PlayStation Store, Universal Search, streaming services (Netflix, Disney +, and Hulu), and the dedicated media space.
Similarly, there are more games that we want to test and provide feedback on.
We have started playing Star Wars: Squadrons again and are already seeing improvements, but we want a little more time to have a solid opinion.
We are also in the process of testing PlayStation VR, or PSVR, with the PS5, thanks to an adapter.
conclusion
The massive PlayStation 5 has a unique design, but you can't judge a book by its cover.
During a week of testing it has proven to be a formidable console that can handle a lot of what is thrown at it.
The controller enhancements really push this into next-gen territory.
The haptic feel alone - speaker, microphone, and button enhancements also have an impact - makes this worth an upgrade.
PlayStation isn't dividing the experience either;
the digital PS5 and the version with the disc drive are equally powerful.
And we are sure that there will be more than enough for games for years to come.
And while not all games take advantage of ray tracing, the scaling that occurs will make content look great.
All in all, it's probably up to your loyalty to the PlayStation or Xbox that you choose one or the other, but if Spider-Man is of interest and a truly next-gen console is on your list, PlayStation 5 should be your choice.
Sony's PlayStation 5 launches November 12 at $ 399.99 for the digital edition and $ 499.99 for the standard disc drive edition.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.
