The undisputed king of this console generation is the PS5, but what about this machine pushed it so far ahead of the competition? Both the PlayStation 5 andXbox Series X/S consoles had a rough start to the generation. They launched under unfortunate circumstances, with both a global pandemic and supply issues making them difficult to get for months after launch. Thankfully, around five years into the generation, and with all eyes looking at what thePS6could be, the PS5 is easily accessible and hitting its stride with amazingupcoming video games. This is the most popular console on the market, but if you don’t have one yet, you might not understand why it is so popular over the Xbox orNintendo Switch 2. I’ll run down all the biggest points you should know about the PS5 if you’re looking to pick one up, including the price, specs, games, and more.
There are two base versions of the PS5 on the market right now: the PS5 and the PS5 Slim. There’s also the PS5 Pro, but that’s such a unique case that I’m going to give that its own section later on. The Slim is basically just the newer model of the original PS5 that has no performance boosts, just a bit more memory, and a smaller form factor. There are still digital and disc versions for each to pick from, depending on whether or not you want to purchase physical games or use its Blu-Ray player.
In terms of raw power, the PS5 is the strongest home console on the market. You can check out all the chips and terraflops if you like, but thePS5 games with the best graphicsspeak for themselves. Even games that are available on both PS5 and Xbox Series X tend to look and/or run better on the PS5. And there’s no competition when comparing it to the Switch 2.
PS5 design
There are two main design options for the PS5, depending on whether you’re looking at the base unit or the Slim. There’s also a slight difference if you opt for the disc vs. digital versions, but that’s splitting hairs a bit.
The original PS5 is ugly. Some people might like its strange aesthetic, but most people agree that it is a big eyesore and stash it away out of sight wherever they can. The revised design of the PS5 Slim is slightly better, but still not something most people would want to display. It is thankfully a good deal smaller, plus it has a nice divide in the faceplate so it isn’t a solid block of color, but still has the same general shape.
You have a lot of different models and types of PS5 to pick from at various price points. The lowest you will pay right now is $450, which is the cheapest option out there for this level of power. You can get a Series S for less or a Switch 2 for the same price, but all PS5 models outclass those two in power.
If you want a disc drive, you will be looking at a $500 investment for a new system. Of course, now that they have been out on the market for so many years, you should be able to find a used or discounted one fairly easily.
PS5 controllers
The standard DualSense controller is the best PlayStation controller yet. It has all the functionality of the old DualShock 4, plus haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that make games that much more tactile. The stick and button layout is all unchanged, including the parallel sticks. If you loved any previous Sony controller, you will love this one too.
For enthusiasts, there’s also theDualSense Edge. While a bit on the pricy side, it does allow for more customization options and adds back paddles. The one universal downside on the PS5 controllers is their battery life. The base DualSense lasts only around 8 hours, give or take depending on the game, while the Edge actually dies faster despite the higher price.
Every major third-party and indie game is present and accounted for the on the PS5. But it gets even better, because now most former Xbox exclusives are also on PlayStation in addition to Sony’s own first-party games that can’t be played anywhere else. That only leaves Nintendo exclusive games as the only segment of games missing from the library. With all that taken into account, the PS5 easily has the most robust and wide selection of games.
Special mention has to go to its own exclusives, though. These are some of thebest PS5 games, with games likeSpider-Man 2, Death Stranding 2,andDemon’s Soulsall being some of the best the console has to offer.
Just like in the PS4 generation, Sony released a mid-generation upgrade called thePS5 Pro. You can compare the specs above, but the main thing to note is that it has the exact same CPU but a better GPU. What this means is that the Pro can push graphics further, but not necessarily make more complex games. What this mostly looks like is allowing you to play games without having to pick between performance or quality mode and instead getting the best of both worlds in one. It also comes standard with 2TB of storage space, which is double the amount you can get in a normal PS5.
That extra storage space is important because the Pro has no disc version available. You can purchase the attachable disc drive as a separate purchase for an additional $80 if you have a collection of physical games you want to keep playing.
Even though the PS5 Pro can more easily hit 4K, that isn’t anything the base PS5 can’t do in quality mode in the same games. And if you don’t have a TV that supports those higher graphics like 4K anyway then it would be a moot point. The Pro does have a new upscaling technology called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) that uses machine learning to improve the resolution of games. This is more of a benefit for developers and is likely to be a bigger deal when it is improved upon for the PS6.
Design-wise, the PS5 Pro sticks to the same overall design as the previous versions, but is closest to a Slim. The only real difference is that it has more ridges on the diagonal faceplate slit.
Remember that this is a Pro, not a PS6. There are no games that will only run on the Pro that you can’t also play on a base PS5. It is a great option if you want the latest and greatest tech, or don’t want to have to choose between quality and performance mode, but by no means essential.
PlayStation Plus
Sony’s competitor toGame Passis the three-tieredPlayStation Plusservice. The Essential tier gives you three “free” games per month, the ability to play online, and cloud saves. Extra adds in a catalogue of PS4 and PS5 games to download, and the Premium tier gives you access to PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 (via streaming) games on top of it all. Here’s how much each one will cost at the time of writing:
Essential is the easiest tier to recommend, but if you’re new to PlayStation or know you will take advantage of having access to all these games, even if you aren’t fully in control of what is added or removed, then the Extra tier offers great value. Premium has the least broad appeal, but if you enjoy retro games or want to revisit childhood classics from the early PlayStation days, this is the easiest way to do it.
It’s never too late to join in on the fun, so if you’re ready to take the plunge and get yourself a PS5, you may also want to get some of thebest PS5 accessories,best PS5 headsets, and, of course, thebest PS5 games.
