The PlayStation 4 Pro was able to output 4K in most of Sony’s first party titles, and the PS5 is looking to take things further with higher frame rates. The PS5 is able to take advantage of HDMI 2.1 in the latest televisions, which supports 4K and 120Hz at the same time. Paired alongside an incredibly strong launch line-up, some of which are likely to end up on our list, Sony’s latest console is looking like a must-have for gamers
Storage architecture
The internal storage of the PlayStation 5 is a custom-built 825 GB (667 GB available) with a 12-channel interface, achieving a raw throughput of 5.5 GB/s. This atypical drive size was found to be optimal for the 12-channel pathway rather than a more common 512 GB or 1 TB unit. With a dedicated decompression unit supporting and the new Oodle Kraken protocol from , the unit has a typical throughput of 8–9 GB/s. Mark Cerny stated that a fast SSD was the top request from game developers so the goal not only was to have a theoretical raw read speed 100 times faster than PS4, but to eliminate (I/O) points so the performance target could be made effective. To this end, Sony designed a custom chip with multiple to work in unison with the to reduce and channel data more efficiently around the system. At peak, the custom unit is capable of processing up to 22 GB/s of compressible data.
Storage for games is expandable through an (NVMe) port for and , however at launch, NVMe drives were not supported and the console will not boot if one is installed. Beta system software support for the M.2 port was released in July 2021, while full support was added in a September 2021 system update. The internal SSD is not user-serviceable, since its flash memory chips and controller are built into the PlayStation 5's motherboard. Though game installation is mandatory, the user has some control of what to install such as only installing the multiplayer component of a game. While PlayStation 4 games can be moved between the internal SSD drive and an external drive to free up space on the SSD, PlayStation 5 games must be stored on the internal SSD to be played, and at launch could not be moved to an external storage device. An April 2021 system patch enabled users to move PlayStation 5 games to and from an external USB storage device, though the games must still reside on the internal SSD to be played.
The base version of the PlayStation 5 includes an optical drive compatible with Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, standard Blu-ray discs and DVDs. The PlayStation 5 does not support and will not play content. The choice of Ultra-HD Blu-ray as the disc medium means PlayStation 5 game discs can hold up to 100 GB of data, in contrast to PlayStation 4 games which usually came on dual-layer standard Blu-ray discs capable of holding up to 50 GB.
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The DualSense controller
The DualSense wireless controller for the PlayStation 5 was revealed on April 7, 2020. It is based on the prior controller but with modifications influenced by discussions with game designers and players. The DualSense controller has adaptive triggers with through actuators that can change the resistance to the player as necessary, supporting experiences such as virtually drawing an arrow from a bow. The DualSense maintains the same buttons as the , though the "Share" button was renamed to "Create" with additional means for players to create and share content. A new built-in microphone array was added so players can speak to others using only the controller, and the included controller speaker has been improved. It has two-tone coloring, primarily white with black facing, with the black piece being easily detachable. The light bar has been moved to the sides of the touchpad. It has connectivity, a higher-rated battery, and an audio jack. As an , the texture of the controller unit is covered in miniature versions of the four PlayStation button symbols (cross, circle, square, and triangle).
Top features
Lightning speed
Harness the power of a custom CPU, GPU, and SSD with Integrated I/O that rewrite the rules of what a PlayStation console can do.
Stunning games
Marvel at incredible graphics and experience new PS5 features.
Breathtaking immersion
Discover a deeper gaming experience with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D Audio technology.
