PS5 buyer’s guide: All you need to know about Sony’s PlayStation 5

Sony’s next entry in its critically acclaimed PlayStation line of gaming consoles is here! The PlayStation 5 — or just PS5 for short — is the ninth-generation Sony console. It was officially released on November 12, and it has some pretty big shoes to fill.

Its predecessor, the PlayStation 4, is one of the most popular gaming consoles of all time, selling over 110 million units as of May 2020. The legendary PlayStation 2 is the only home gaming console to surpass those numbers.

So, does the PS5 pack enough punch to woo gamers around the world as the PS4 did? Here’s everything you need to know about the PlayStation 5.

At a glance: What is the Sony PS5?

The PS5 is a ninth-gen gaming console from Sony. The system is formally called the Sony PlayStation 5, or PS5 for short.

The Sony PlayStation 5 is a massive jump forward from its predecessor, offering more powerful specs and a space-age design. Its main competitors are the Xbox Series X and Series S and to a lesser extent the Nintendo Switch. The latter home-handheld-hybrid console released in 2017. While it is a great system in its own right, however, it isn’t necessarily a direct competitor due to its unique form factor and significantly reduced specs.

There are two PS5 models: the regular PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. The two share identical specs, though as the name suggests, the Digital Edition will only play digitally downloaded games. It does not have a disc drive.

Is the PS5 worth it?

Whether you’re upgrading from a PS4 or just starting with the latest console, buying a PS5 will cost a pretty penny. Consoles generally build value over time as more games are released, so before you spend your hard earned money you should ask yourself: is it worth it?

Until 2021, the answer isn’t so clear. Right now there simply aren’t enough launch titles to justify the purchase, especially if you already have a PS4 or PS4 Pro. What you’re getting is improved performance on games that you already have rather than a truly game-changing experience on day one. Better graphics and faster load times are great, but they’re not transformative.

If you don’t currently have a console it might be worth picking up a PS5, but it faces some stiff competition from the Xbox Series X. Unless you’re looking for PlayStation exclusives (of which there are plenty), the Xbox Game Pass provides incredible value with access to tons of first-party games.

One area where the Xbox Series X can’t compete is (surprisingly) the controller. Sony has knocked it out of the park with the new PlayStation 5 DualSense controller. Improved ergonomics, adaptive triggers, and incredible haptic feedback make a huge difference while playing games. Android Authority‘s own C. Scott Brown was completely blown away by the experience, stating that it’s changed his entire outlook on console gaming.

Even if there aren’t too many true next-gen games out right now, buying a PlayStation 5 console today prepares you for what’s soon to come. Console prices also aren’t likely to drop for at least a few years. Unless you can wait that long, you probably won’t save much money.

What the experts are saying about the PS5

PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller Closeup of Buttons

Android Authority’s PS5 review is coming soon, but other publications around the web have already chimed in with early opinions. Here’s a quick roundup:

TechRadar‘s Nick Pino and Adam Vjestica called it “a superb console that offers a compelling next-gen gaming experience” in their review shortly after launch. Great graphics and high framerates were among the expected positives, with an extra shoutout to the new UI. They were critical of the console’s physical size, as well as the somewhat limited capacity of the included HDD.
Wired‘s Jess Grey was also positive overall in a pre-launch review. She stated that the 120Hz capabilities were “objectively marvelous, but buying a brand-new console and an expensive new TV is a bit much in the midst of a global pandemic.” Grey was also impressed by the improved battery life, haptics, and adaptive triggers of the new DualSense controller.
IGN‘s Luke Reilly was critical of the PS5’s “flamboyant” design but otherwise positive. He thinks that “what the PlayStation 5 lacks in subtlety it more than makes up for in potential, thanks in part to its amazingly fast SSD but mostly to its truly remarkable new controller.” However, he wasn’t convinced that the console lives up to that potential yet due to a launch lineup that’s largely available on the PS4 and limited HDD storage.
Michael Andronico from Tom’s Guide wrote in his PS5 review that the console is “a huge generational leap — even if you don’t need one yet.” Like others, he praised the new controller, but did state that it “may feel too big for some.” Although critical of the lack of true next-gen launch titles, he wrote that the increased speeds create “almost zero friction between you and the games you want to play”.
Cnet‘s Dan Ackerman was “extremely impressed with the entire PS5 package” in his new console review. He mostly repeated the comments above, with the notable exception of recommending the Digital Edition over the standard one. “If you can find one, save $100 and get the all-digital version. Classic game disc collectors, used game shoppers and Blu-ray hoarders will disagree, but it both costs less and gets rid of one of the most trouble-prone mechanical parts in any game console.”

What our readers think

We’re expecting to hear far more of your thoughts on the Sony PlayStation 5 now that it’s available to buy. However, prior to launch, fans seemed very eager to get their hands on one.

In an Android Authority poll earlier this summer, we asked if folks were more interested in the PS5, Xbox Series X, or happy with another platform such as Switch or PC. An overwhelming 61.9% voted for the PS5, out of nearly 15,000 votes.

Sony PlayStation 5 design

Sony revealed the PS5 design in full at a June 11 event. The console — as seen in the video above — stands vertically (but can be laid horizontally) and sports a black and white design that matches the all-new DualSense controller. The design event also saw the reveal of the two versions of the PS5 — the standard console and the slimmer Digital Edition.

While the console ships with a futuristic black and white color scheme, the side panels are easy to remove. Sony has nixed the idea of custom panels for now (although the company may sell them itself in the future). Nevertheless, you can buy vinyl skins to give your PS5 a more customized look.

Another benefit of the removable panels is that it’s much easier to clean dust from the fans. This should help the console run cool and quiet, especially over time.

PlayStation 5 controller

PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller Propped Up

The PlayStation 5 controller, the DualSense, is the largest design departure from any PlayStation controller to date. It features a new futuristic black and white design that largely matches the console itself.

The controller touts haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone array. It also comes with a USB-C charging port, and Sony is replacing the Share button with a brand new Create button. The DualSense controller comes bundled with the console, though you can buy additional gamepads separately for $69.99.

Without having the controller in your hands, it’s difficult to understand just how much of an upgrade it is over the last-gen model. The adaptive triggers provide more or less resistance depending on what you do or what is happening in the game. This level of tactile control simply isn’t available on anything other than high-end racing wheels.

The haptic feedback also makes a huge difference in how you experience every moment of a game. From the pitter-patter of light rainfall to the thundering footsteps of a powerful boss monster, you can truly feel the game in a way that wasn’t possible in the past.

It’s worth noting, of course, that not every game supports these two features. It’s highly likely that the plethora of first-party studios like Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games will, but hopefully, Sony can convince other developers to add support too.

PS5 interface

Sony detailed the PS5’s interface in mid-October, demonstrating how the system’s new UX elements will better serve users. Like the PS4, the PS5’s user experience still revolves around the PlayStation button on the DualSense. You tap it on boot to access the user screen. But that’s where the similarities largely end.

Tapping the PS button in-game now opens the Control Center. It’s a side-scrolling but detailed bottom menu system that gives users immediate access to audio controls, friends lists, and more. Activities is the standout addition to the new menu. It’s a set of cards that can shortcut users to particular levels or adventures within a game. These cards also display progress, while some also provide gamers with tips, tricks, and tutorials to help find collectibles or beat tough challenges.

Sony demonstrated how these cards can be viewed in a picture-by-picture mode. The Control Center also lists recent screenshots, news from PlayStation, and friends’ activities. Speaking of the latter, gamers can also join voice chats, view other users’ streams, or directly join their game.

The new home screen is where users will land when first booting the console. It now features dedicated Media and Games pages, which should serve to separate your binging and playing habits. The PlayStation Store is now also integrated into the latter, and it’s no longer a slow-loading app. Each game also gets its own hub too.

PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition

As mentioned above, there are two versions of the Sony PlayStation 5, with one coming in quite a bit cheaper. The two are more similar than Microsoft’s two new Xbox consoles, but choosing can still be difficult when making the purchase.

So, what is the difference between the PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition? It all comes down to the missing optical drive and the price tag. The designs are also a little different, because of the said disc drive. If we’re being honest, the PS5 Digital Version looks a little better, as the bulge added by the drive throws off the device’s symmetry.

Apart from that, the internals are identical. You’re still getting the same great load speeds and performance, unlike the cheaper Xbox Series S from Microsoft.

So, should you get the PS5 Digital Edition over the standard model? If you honestly agree with the following statements, then yes:

I plan to buy my games digitally.
I don’t already have a large library of game discs.
Borrowing games from a friend, Redbox, or a service such as GameFly is not something I intend to do.
I already have or don’t need a Blu-ray player.

If you will never use the drive, you might as well save some cash! We’ve got even more of an in-depth comparison between the two models in the article linked below.

Further reading: PS5 vs PS5 digital

PS5 specs

The PS5 touts some serious improvements over the PS4, as far as raw hardware is concerned. Here’s a complete overview of the PS5’s specs list compared to the PS4:

	PlayStation 5	PlayStation 4
CPU	8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz with SMT (variable frequency)	8x Jaguar Cores at 1.6GHz
GPU	10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (Custom RDNA 2 architecture)	1.84 TFLOPs, 18 CUs at 800MHz (Custom GCN architecture)
RAM	16GB GDDR6/256-bit	8GB GDDR5/256-bit
Internal Storage	Custom 825GB SSD	500GB HDD
Expandable Storage	NVMe SSD slot	Replaceable internal HDD
External Storage	USB HDD support	USB HDD support
IO Throughput	5.5GB/s (Raw), Typical 8-9GB/s (Compressed)	Approx 50-100MB/s (dependent on data location on HDD)
Memory Bandwidth	448GB/s	176GB/s
Optical Drive	4K UHD Blu-ray Drive	Blu-ray Drive

The PS5 features an upgraded CPU in the form of the AMD Zen 2, which sports eight cores clocked at 3.5GHz. This should provide significant performance gains over the PS4’s eight-core Jaguar 1.6GHz CPU. The PS5’s custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU is also a solid upgrade over last gen’s custom GCN GPU.

This CPU and GPU combination will allow the PS5 to utilize ray tracing acceleration. Ray tracing is advanced lighting tech that can take in-game graphics to a whole new level by more realistically mimicking the way light behaves in an environment.

The PlayStation 5 also sports a proprietary 825GB SSD, and it will support off-the-shelf NVMe SSD expandability. Not only does that mean users will be able to easily expand their PS5’s storage, but it also offers faster load speeds. This allows for bigger maps, as well as better system memory management.

Read also: How impressive are the PS5 specs?

Additionally, the console has a new custom AMD compute unit-based Tempest Engine. Using custom Head-related Transfer Function (HRTF) maps, this new tech allows gamers to experience high-quality 3D in-game audio with even the most basic headphones or speakers. In a deep dive prior to launch, the PS5’s lead architect Mark Cerny admitted the Tempest Engine is still in the early stages, and it may take years for it to fully develop.

PS5 users will be able to select from one of five custom HRTF maps that best fit their sound profile. Cerny hinted at how Sony could expand on this tech in the future:

“Maybe you’ll be sending us a photo of your ear, and we’ll choose a neural network to pick the closest HRTF in our library,” said Cerny. “Maybe you’ll be sending us a video of your ears and your head, and we’ll make a 3D model of them and synthesize the HRTF [or] you’ll play an audio game to tune your HRTF. We’ll be subtly changing it as you play and home in on the HRTF [that] matches you the best.”

PS5 games

What makes any console better than the next? The games!

The PS5 is backward compatible with nearly every single game in the PS4’s library. At first, the company claimed that it would work with nearly all of the top 100 titles from the previous generation console. However, it later clarified that “99%” of PS4 games can be played on the PS5.

Sony says most PS4 titles will benefit from higher, more stable frame rates and higher resolutions on the PS5. It can’t guarantee every game will work, but it has already tested hundreds of titles with thousands more to come. And the aforementioned 99% figure means that there’s a great chance your desired title works. Early testing has shown some impressive results. We’ll be putting it to the test ourselves very soon.

The PlayStation 5 is backward compatible with nearly every PlayStation 4 title at launch.

Unfortunately, those of you who want backward compatibility to go even further will likely be disappointed. You won’t be able to play PS3, PS2, or PS1 games on the PS5 unless those games were previously ported to the PS4.

For our list of the best PlayStation 5 titles, click here. Below, you can check out all the new and/or PS5-optimized games as of the PS5’s release date on November 12:

First party

Astro’s Playroom
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Demon’s Souls
Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Third party

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Borderlands 3
Bugsnax
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
Destiny 2: Beyond Light
Dirt 5
Fortnite
Godfall
Just Dance 2021

Overcooked: All you can eat
Maneater
NBA 2K21
No Man’s Sky
Observer: System Redux
Planet Coaster: Console Edition
The Pathless
Warhammer: Chaosbane — Slayer Edition
Watch Dogs Legion

In addition to the above, any PS5 owners with a PlayStation Plus account will also get immediate access to the PlayStation Plus Collection. It lets PS Plus subscribers download 18 highly-acclaimed PS4 games for no additional fee. The list includes some of the best PS4 games ever. The full PlayStation Plus Collection list can be found below.

Battlefield 1
Batman: Arkham Knight
Bloodborne
Days Gone
Detroit: Become Human
Fallout 4
Final Fantasy 15
God of War (2018)
Infamous: Second Son

Monster Hunter World
Mortal Kombat X
Persona 5
Ratchet and Clank
Resident Evil 7
The Last of Us: Remastered
The Last Guardian
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Until Dawn

PS5 price and where to buy

The Sony PlayStation 5 release date was November 12, 2020 in the US and a few other select markets. It arrived just a week later (November 19) in several other major markets such as the UK.

The PS5 price is set at $499 for the regular edition, or $399 for the Digital Edition. While the former is the same as the Xbox Series X, the all-digital Series S is actually cheaper than the PS5 Digital by $100. The PS5 Digital is more powerful than the Xbox Series S, but it is worth noting nonetheless that the barrier to next-gen entry is cheaper if you opt for Microsoft.

Here are the official prices for the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition around the globe:

Australia: AU$749 and AU$599
Europe: €499 and €399
India: ₹49,990 and ₹39,990
United Kingdom: £449 and £359
United States: $499 and $399

PS5 pre-orders launched September 17, though there were very limited quantities out of the gate. The new console sold out everywhere shortly after launch, with new stock coming in very irregularly. Check the links below for the latest availability from each retailer!

Alternatives

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should know that the PS5 isn’t the only console that launched in 2020. Its longtime rival Xbox released the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, both of which are solid upgrades over the Xbox One lineup.

The Series X is the true next-gen machine, offering performance that matches or exceeds that of the PS5. Both feature improved graphics and ray tracing, as well as speedy load times and great backward compatibility.

The cheaper Series S, however, is a bigger departure than the PS5 Digital Edition, with less power packed into a smaller package. It’s the cheapest of all the new next-gen consoles at just $300 but won’t deliver high framerates at high resolutions. There’s also no optical drive, so your existing physical library won’t make the jump.

Microsoft’s strategy also differs from that of Sony. It’s continuing to push services like Xbox Game Pass, which is a fantastic deal for gamers. It’s essentially a Netflix-for-games subscription that includes all first-party games, which can be played on your Xbox, PC, or even in the cloud (with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate).

While it’s not exactly next-gen, the Nintendo Switch is also a great PS5 alternative. It continues to sell extremely well years after release. Like the PS5, it has a great library of first-party games that you can’t play anywhere else. It’s also small and portable, so you can game both on the big screen at home and the small screen in bed or on the bus.

However, Switch hardware was not built for power, so you won’t see high framerates or 4K resolution on any games. The focus is more on interesting experiences rather than graphics, which the Switch delivers in spades.

Accessories

The PlayStation 5 might come with everything you need in the box, but there are already some great accessories to make the experience even better. We’ve got a full list of the best PS5 accessories with more details, but here’s a quick rundown.

If you want to play online, one of the first things you’ll need is a good headset. Sony has an excellent first-party option in the Pulse 3D wireless headset, which matches the console’s black and white aesthetic. It supports the new 3D audio thanks to Tempest 3D AudioTech, with up to 12 hours of battery life. Nevertheless, it can be very difficult to track down, so if you can’t find it the SteelSeries Arctis 7P is a great alternative. It offers even better battery life and will work with your phone or PC, too.

Another essential accessory is a second DualSense controller. This will allow you to play local co-op with friends and family, or just have a spare one charged. Sony also makes a handy DualSense charging station to keep both controllers topped off when not in use.

The PS5 features more storage than its predecessor, but you’ll still eventually need to invest in an external hard drive. You can opt for a super fast HD that matches the one built-in, but for the money, the WD Black P10 is a better buy. It has tons of space for games, and you can swap them to your main HD for the speed bump when necessary.

Apart from those, you might also want a PlayStation 5 media remote for streaming, a PlayStation VR for a new way to game, or a PS5 HD camera to stream yourself playing games online. The console might have only just come out, but there already are plenty of great PS5 accessories to choose from!

FAQ

Q: When is the PS5 release date?
A: The PS5 release date was November 12 in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. The system launched on November 19 in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and South America.

Q: What can I play on the PS5?
A: In addition to plenty of new PS5 games, you can play PS4 games as well!

Q: How much do PS5 games cost?
A: For now, most games cost the same as new PS4 titles — around $59.99. However, retail prices are expected to increase to $70 in 2021 and beyond.

Q: How much does the PS5 cost?
A: The PS5 Digital Edition starts at $399, while the standard model (which includes a disc drive) costs $499.

Q: Does the PlayStation 5 support VR?
A: Yes! Several new PS5 games will be able to utilize the PSVR hardware. There are even rumors suggesting a newer PSVR model is in the works.

Credit: Sarah Chaney / Android Authority

Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority