[Software] PS5 review

[Agent47]

 

 

One-Minute Review
We were hoping for great things from the PS5, and Sony's next-gen console delivers. 

Sony has re-imagined the key parts of the experience – from a simpler setup and new well-thought-out user interface, to a revolutionary controller and added bonuses for PS Plus members – and the result is a console that we can't help but be impressed with. 

Where to buy the PS5: pre-order and price updates
PS5 size comparison: is the PlayStation 5 too big?
PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition: which next-gen Sony console is for you?
Sony PlayStation 5 at eBay for £649
Sure, there are problems with how few first-party games there are at launch – and it would have been nice to see support for previous generations of PlayStation titles, not just PS4 games – but the PlayStation 5 feels like a solid investment nevertheless, and we're confident that the PS5 experience will improve with age. 

You may feel tempted to run out and buy a 4K/120Hz TV with HDMI 2.1 to take full advantage of the console's peak capabilities, but even without one you'll enjoy unbelievably fast load times and a gorgeous new UI. 

The PS5 caters to both primed and ready next-gen gamers and tepid PS4 owners looking to dip their toes into the future of gaming - and for the latter it's a console that so seamlessly bridges the gap between the last generation and the next that you probably won't need to boot up your PS4 ever again. 

From big upgrades like the super-fast NVMe SSD and powerful GPU that enable higher frame rates and ray tracing, to subtle touches like the built-in microphone on the controller that can serve as a quick stand-in for a headset, the PS5 feels like it was built for ease of use as well as pure power.

We've yet to get our hands on the PS5 Digital Edition, which we may feel differently about, and we've yet to try out some of the PS5's streaming apps and entertainment functionality, but if you're still on the fence about buying the PS5, we can wholeheartedly recommend the console as a welcome upgrade over the PS4, and an exciting portal to next-gen gameplay. 

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: which console should you pick?
What's in the PS5 box? Find out in our PlayStation 5 unboxing video:
PS5 release date: November 12 or November 19 depending on region
PS5 price: $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95
PS5 Digital Edition price: $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95
The PS5 release date in North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand is November 12, 2020, which is just two days after the release of its next-gen rivals, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. For the rest of the world, the console becomes available one week later on November 19.

In terms of the PS5 price, you’re looking at $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95 for the standard version of the console with a 4K Blu-ray disc drive. However, if that’s more than you want to spend, there’s also the PS5 Digital Edition, which doesn’t have a disc drive, and which is available for $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95.

That's more than the launch price of the PS4 and PS4 Pro, which both came in at $399.99, but they arrived seven and four years ago respectively now, and you're getting a generational leap in hardware here for only a few hundred more. It's still expensive, don't get us wrong, but the jump in price does feel warranted for what you’re getting here. 

Sony isn't the only console maker with new hardware on the block – you also have to consider the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S that are available at almost exactly the same time. 

Priced at $499 and $299 respectively, they each have their own separate reviews so we won't spend much time talking about them here, but be sure to check out our PS5 vs Xbox Series X breakdown for more details about how the consoles stack up.