Is the PlayStation 5 (PS5) Worth Buying – Review

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is still hard to come by not even a year after its launch, and it’s still difficult to locate in stock throughout the world. That’s understandable, given that it’s a wonderful gaming system that represents a real generational jump above the PS4.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) not only boasts 4K gaming capabilities, but it also includes sophisticated haptics, a fast SSD, and realistic 3D audio. These features, as well as others, combine to create a system that is genuinely ready for next-generation, or even current-generation, gaming. There is one little snag: the console is rather large and may not interest everyone. However, it’s a fascinating system that’s definitely worth buying.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) was released in the United States on November 12 and in the United Kingdom and other parts of the globe on November 19. The normal PlayStation 5 (PS5), which contains a 4K Blu-ray drive, costs $499, but if you don’t mind having a disc-less console, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) Digital Edition costs $399.

It’s worth mentioning that the PlayStation 5 (PS5) is exceedingly difficult to obtain. The retail stock is always running out.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a genuinely massive piece of gear, as has already been talked about to death. Sony’s 644 cubic-inch console eclipses almost every game system released in the last ten years. It’s also far larger than its latest next-gen competitor, the Xbox Series X.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s enormous chassis allows it to generate substantial performance while remaining mainly cool and silent (which we’ll go over in more detail later), but its sheer size may be a concern for people with modest entertainment rooms.

If you want to stand your PlayStation 5 (PS5) upright, you’ll need a dedicated tiny table unless you want to set it on the floor. I just barely squeezed the PlayStation 5 (PS5) into my entertainment center horizontally. Before you set up your console at home, you should measure your available area.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) comes with a retractable stand that lets you arrange the enormous console either vertically or horizontally. In vertical mode, the stand will screw into the bottom of the console (the PS5 includes a screw but no tool to secure it), and in horizontal mode, it hooks onto the PS5’s backport area.

Since it was announced, the PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s eye-catching, futuristic appearance has been the focus of considerable criticism, and I still have uncertain thoughts about it. Because of its sharp white side panels and the difference in the asymmetrical weight introduced by the Blu-ray drive, I think the console appears like an unattractive, large cable modem when standing upright.

Nevertheless, I’ve grown to like how it looks when positioned horizontally below my television, where its sleek curves seem to stand out more. I especially enjoy the sleeker and more pronounced LED status lights, which are a notch up over the PS4’s status light. The hidden PlayStation controller symbols within the panels are a nice touch as well. Whether you like it or not, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a console that devotes close attention to detail and looks unlike any other we’ve seen elsewhere.

With the base attached, the system stands securely in a vertical position, although I think the base is a bit more problematic in horizontal mode. It took a few tries for me to get it to rest flat and secure on the base. eventually, I got the PlayStation 5 (PS5) to sit flatly in my home entertainment center, but it had the potential to slide off the base very easily until it was positioned perfectly, which is cause for concern.

Still, I’ll probably keep the PlayStation 5 (PS5) in a flat horizontal configuration just because I’m nervous about inadvertently tipping over the incredibly tall chassis as it rests on my table.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) features a fairly standard set of connections and some nice technological conveniences. You’ll discover a Hi-Speed USB Type-A port and a USB Type-C port. It’s good to see a console, at last, have a USB-C connection, especially for connecting current modern peripherals and other storage devices.

There are two SuperSpeed USB-A connections, an Ethernet connection, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an AC adaptor in the back. The PlayStation 5 (PS5) does not have the optical audio connector found on the PS4, which may be a disappointment for those who own high-end audio equipment with optical connections. Nevertheless, some companies, already provide optical-to-HDMI splitters.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) user interface is a streamlined, beautiful, and efficient progression of the PS4 software. Moving in between games and accessing menus seems so quick making the PS4 console suddenly seem slow. Even though there are certain things I’d want to see incorporated into the PS5 UI, it does introduce some fascinating new approaches to load you’re playing faster. Meanwhile, there are other PS5 secret features to explore.

PS4 gamers will recognize the home screen, where the titles are positioned horizontally, displaying your most recent adventures. When you highlight a title, its graphics will modalize over the full home screen as the game’s music is played, which is a nice touch. There’s a useful Explore option that displays news and other updates, as well as a library of game options that allowed me to immediately begin downloading my PS4 titles. With only a quick push of the Create button, you can record movies and screenshots, as well as a live stream to YouTube or Twitch.

I like how the PlayStation 5 (PS5) software looks generally, but I wish there was a way to organize your games into folders that can be done on the PS4. While it’s nice to watch the backdrop change to whatever game you’ve selected, I’m puzzled as to why there isn’t an ability to choose a unique background instead. 

Long-time PS4 players will have to retrain their minds because now the PlayStation button pulls up a control panel that allows you to switch applications, browse your friends, check alerts, monitor the battery life of your controller, and more now at the bottom of your screen.

Perhaps better, you can now personalize the control center to provide easy access to things like network settings, accessibility choices, and broadcast settings. It’s a significant upgrade over the PS4’s quick menu, taking up a far larger portion of your screen, and wasn’t as efficient or configurable.

If you wish to supplement the PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s 825GB of SSD storage, you can get to the PCle 4.0 M.2 extension slot which is accessible by opening the console. It is important to note that not all SSD hard drives are allowed; you will want one that meets Sony’s pretty stringent requirements. Western Digital SN850, the Samsung 980 Pro, or the Sony-produced Nextorage M.2 NVMe SSD are compatible options.

The expansion slot was closed when the PlayStation 5 (PS5) launched, however, the recent PlayStation 5 (PS5) software update opened it, allowing owners to install SSD for more capacity. I put the method to the test when the functionality was still in testing and got some great results.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s SSD expansion slot adds another feather to its cap when pitted against the Xbox Series. Upgrading and adding more internal storage to the Xbox Series X console necessitates the purchase of a costly proprietary SSD card, but Sony’s SSD expansion option allows you to choose from a variety of vendor accessories ranging in price. The PS5 also supports normal external hard drives, but solely for transferring digital PS4 games and storing files. 

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) UI really comes to life when you start playing. When playing a game, pushing the PlayStation button activates the Activities menu, which displays information about the current status of your goal, a set of trophies to pursue, or a list of activities you may engage in immediately.

What else is pretty cool, is that you may also visit the Activities menu from your Game Library even before starting a game.

The option to skip to a certain portion of a game at the system level isn’t just useful – it’s revolutionary. While it may appear to some to be a small gesture, the Activities menu has the potential to change the way we all play games in the future, and I’m eager to watch how developers use it moving forward.

On a software level, my major beef with the PlayStation 5 (PS5) unlike the Xbox Series, Sony’s system does not appear to be capable of suspending numerous titles at once. While the Xbox’s Quick Resume functionality allows you to seamlessly switch between half a dozen games, picking up just where you left off, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) forces you to launch each game from scratch. Worse yet, the console doesn’t notify you when your current game will be closed, which might result in losing progress. However, the PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s load times are quite quick enough to compensate for the lack of the Quick Resume functionality which isn’t a major issue. It’s a little disappointing that Sony’s system lacks a solution to one of the Xbox’s most useful features.

Users will be able to test the new PlayStation 5 (PS5) beta software in February 2022, which is said to improve chat, UI navigation, and voice command functions. 

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) DualSense controller is the most cutting-edge feature of Sony’s latest console. The console’s tactile feedback, adjustable triggers, and built-in speakers work perfectly together to provide a degree of physical immersion I’ve never felt when playing a game before.

The DualSense shines most brightly in Astro’s Playroom, a pre-installed title designed solely to demonstrate what Sony’s new controller is capable of. To mention a few instances, in this colorful 3D adventure, you may feel and hear the tiny impact of small grains of sand when strolling through a storm or enjoy a smooth gliding feel when skating on ice. Everything from tugging on a rope to flying around in a jetpack produces incredibly accurate force sensations. It’s the type of thing you have to feel to believe. If you’re already debating the PlayStation 5 (PS5) DualSense vs DualShock 4 duel, the new controller wins on pure creativity. The dynamic triggers are particularly amazing, since they may grow more difficult to activate based on what’s going on in-game. While I was manipulating the triggers produced considerably more resistance, accurately imitating the sensation. Games can also make use of the DualSense’s built-in mic. During sequences in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, I sensed small but incredibly nuanced sensations, as the controller would precisely match the tactile input. I particularly liked the small resistance I felt when using the triggers for web-swinging.

Sony’s new controller includes a built-in microphone, allowing you to communicate without a gaming headset.  I had a full vocal conversation with use both using his DualSense, and we could hear each other perfectly with the controller’s built-in speaker. The fact that you can chat with pals on PlayStation 5 (PS5) without having a headset is a nice addition.

The DualSense already has amazing potential, but this is only as wonderful as the games that use it. I’m interested to see how many PlayStation 5 (PS5) Game developers fully utilize the DualSense’s unique characteristics once more PlayStation 5 (PS5) games arrive.

Aside from its sophisticated haptic feedback, the DualSense performs admirably as a normal controller. It’s substantially larger than the DualShock 4 controller, with a robust feel and an ergonomic design that appears to take a page from the Xbox Wireless Controller. The DualSense’s more robust grip is enjoyable to wield, I wish it were a little more compact because I found my hands cramping when playing more intense controller combination style games.

The good news is that the DualSense buttons and triggers are quite responsive during normal gaming. Because of the controller’s smooth D-pad and fast face buttons, I had no difficulty completing my standard Mortal Kombat 11 combinations. When I was shooting down Rebels in Battlefront II, the thumbsticks and triggers felt snappy and accurate. The touchpad is significantly larger this time, and I enjoy how the built-in lightbar extends around the middle instead of being concealed at the top like it was with the DualShock 4.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) boasts some of the strongest performances ever from a gaming console, with an 8-core AMD Zen 2 CPU, 10.3 teraflops of graphics capability, and a fantastically fast bespoke SSD. And, despite having only played a few games built to take advantage of the PS5’s capability, I’m already amazed by what Sony’s platform can provide in terms of quality, playability, and, most significantly, load speeds.

This should come as no surprise, but games look excellent on Sony’s new console. As I gawked at the stunning color sensations.  

While ray-traced graphics and 60 fps performance settings are impressive, it’s the PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s SSD that elevates Sony’s console. When you start a game there’s practically no time between picking the title and beginning your adventure. PS4 users would have to wait around 20-30 seconds.

Astro’s Playroom is just as quick, loading colorful levels without seeing a single loading screen. The PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s fast SSD also enables you to skip to certain parts of a game via the Activities menu. Apart from that, they’ll do some very creative stuff with it. We’ll have to wait and see how other titles use the SSD, but it already feels like one of the most significant advances in console gaming in a long time.

When testing PS4 games on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) console, the differences in load speeds were less evident, but every single game loaded faster on PlayStation 5 (PS5).

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is backward compatible with practically all PS4 titles, which is a big improvement from PlayStations’ complete lack of backward compatibility in previous consoles. I tested about a dozen PS4 titles on PlayStation 5 (PS5), and nearly all of them loaded and ran faster than on my launch PS4. My PlayStation 5 (PS5) played both digital and disc-based PS4 games flawlessly, and my physical DVDs played perfectly on the system’s 4K Blu-ray drive.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) supports any PS4 Pro upgrades that a game offers, thus games with better resolution or frame rate settings gain the most from the new console. 

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is meant to connect with most first-party and properly licensed PS4 attachments, so I had no trouble transferring my previous-generation gear. My old headsets worked perfectly with the DualSense’s 3.5 mm audio connector, and pairing my DualShock 4 was as simple as connecting it in via USB cable.

Third-party cabled controllers, such as my Hori Fightpad and Victrix Pro FS Fight Stick, also functioned flawlessly. Just keep in mind that the DualShock 4 only works with PS4 games that are backward compatible, thus it won’t function with PlayStation 5 (PS5) games.

A new patent filing submitted by PlayStation designers suggests that the PlayStation 5 (PS5) will be able to run PS1, PS2, and PS3 titles in the future, giving you even more incentive to buy a PS5.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) provides access to almost every entertainment app you’ll need, including Disney Plus, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and Apple TV Plus, which is new to the PlayStation ecosystem. In my testing, these applications all operated just like their PS4 equivalents, which isn’t a terrible thing.

Whether I was watching a show on Netflix or a music video on YouTube, every app I tried loaded promptly and dependably. But, more crucially, the PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s streaming applications are now simpler to reach than ever before, due to a convenient Media tab on the home screen that’s only a button click away.  

PS4 jailbreaks are said to be compatible with the PlayStation 5 (PS5), allowing it to run a wide range of homemade software and apps. However, I recommend that you avoid doing so since it might cause issues considering that it is still in short supply.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) remained cool and largely silent during my time with it, thanks to its big internal fan and wide vents around the interior of the chassis. When I put Blu-ray DVDs in the system, I could hear discs spinning rather loudly and noticed some rare periods of noise when running certain games. However, when compared to the factory fan-like noises that my PS4 made when just downloading, the PS5 is wonderfully silent.

The Tempest Engine on the PlayStation 5 (PS5) enables it to produce 3D audio for compatible games, allowing you to hear game sounds with more directionality than basic stereo can provide. The PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s 3D audio is intended to operate with most existing headphones and headsets, except for Sony’s new Pulse 3D Wireless Headset, which is tailored for the technology. So far, I’ve tried the 3D audio on an Astro A20 headset, although the effects have been fairly mild, they show a lot of potential.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5)’s audio gimmicks were most noticeable in Astro’s Playroom, where I could hear the rain falling from above and a tornado churning between my left and right ears as it launched my character skyward. When swinging about in Spider-Man: Miles Morales, it was also simple to see where automobiles, aircraft, and opponents were coming from, but I didn’t notice a significant difference when the effect was turned off.

It will essentially be up to developers, like with many other PlayStation 5 (PS5) capabilities, to make the most of the console’s 3D audio technology. We’re excited to check out additional titles that support 3D audio, as well as get our hands on the Pulse 3D headset for the entire experience.

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) represents a significant leap forward in console gaming, with spectacular 4K performance, lightning-fast load times, and a truly game-changing controller that makes gaming more immersive and tactile than ever. It supports almost all PS4 games and, in many cases, makes them play and load faster than ever before.