PlayStation 5

The PlayStation 5 - Does Sony's Flagship Gaming Platform Still Deliver the Goods?

A quick but thorough look at the latest iteration of one of the most storied gaming consoles ever produced.

PlayStation 5 | Credit: Sony

The Sony PlayStation 5 Breakdown You Need to Read

For more than 25 years, the Sony PlayStation platform has been the preferred gaming console for millions. The new PlayStation 5 promises to revolutionize the home gaming industry once again. Is the PS5 a worthwhile purchase for you? Read on to find out everything you need to know about this gaming behemoth.

PlayStation 5 | Credit: Sony

Hardware & Design

Measuring 15.4 inches high by 10.2 inches deep, the PS5 console boasts a dual-tone, black-and-white color scheme that's pleasing to the eye. A circular stand supports the unit when aligned in a vertical fashion. The PS5's DualSense controller is outfitted with monochrome buttons, a USB-C port, and an upgraded speaker. The two white "wings" that surround the main black body of the unit are lit up with flashy blue LEDs.

PlayStation 5 | Credit: Sony

Notable Features

The PS5 comes in two form factors: the Base model and the Digital Edition. The main difference between the two is that the base model has an optical drive that can handle Ultra HD Blu-ray media. Thanks to support for both PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus, the PS5 affords the same gaming experience you've become accustomed to if you're a current PS4 owner. Support for content streaming via Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video is standard.

PlayStation 5 | Credit: Sony

Key Specifications

The heart of the PS5 is a freakishly powerful octa-core AMD Zen 2 CPU that clocks up to 3.5 GHz under heavy load. That monstrous computing engine is backed up by 16 GB of GDDR6 RAM and 512 MB of DDR4 RAM. Off the rack, the PS5 comes with an 825 GB SSD that's augmented by an NVMe M.2 SSD slot. The PS5 also allows users to connect an external HDD for more storage space.

PlayStation 5 | Credit: Sony

Performance

Without a doubt, the PlayStation 5 is the most powerful gaming console on the market. It can achieve frame rates of up to 60 fps at 4K resolution without skipping a beat. As a matter of fact, it can produce a frame rate of 120 fps under the right circumstances. The onboard GPU is good for 10.28 teraflops and the I/O throughput comes in at a minimum of 5.5 GB per second. The PS5 is backward compatible with roughly 99% of the games supported by the PS4.

The Last of Us II on PlayStation 5 | Credit: Sony

Price

At the present time, the Blu-ray Base version of the PS5 retails for roughly $499. The Digital Edition goes for $399 if you prefer to download your games from the web rather than relying on optical discs. Additional DualSense controllers will run you about $70 a unit.

PlayStation 5 | Credit: Sony

The Verdict

However you choose to slice it or dice it, the PlayStation 5 is the future of console gaming for the time being. The gaming experience it enables has to be seen to be believed. The sheer horsepower of Sony's custom AMD silicon allows the PS5 to crank every last bit of performance out of new and old games alike. The latest DualSense controller alone is worth the price of admission.

The Pros:

• The best graphics on the market.
• Blazing load times.
• Peerless UI and UX.
• Jaw-dropping controller feedback.

The Cons:

• A temporary deficit of PS5-specific games.
• Somewhat limited storage space out of the gate.
• A larger controller than most gamers are used to.
• No Dolby Vision or Atmos support.

TL;DR

At the end of the day, the PlayStation 5 is a monster of a gaming machine that delivers plenty of performance for the money. While there are a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out, there's no reason why it shouldn't be your preferred console for the foreseeable future.