Buzz
At first glance, the PS5 stands out as a compact computer hardware system with a true small-form-factor design, and it's surprisingly heavy. The console weighs almost close to ten pounds, even though inside it only houses the console itself, a DualSense controller, a plastic stand to secure the machine, and three cables: a C8 power cable, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a High Speed HDMI cable, HDMI 2.1 standard, capable of handling 4K 120Hz image signal quality.
Our elders used to say, 'seeing a hundred times is not as good as touching once,' but now it's more like 'a hundred views are not as revealing as a single touch.' Simply looking at images and video clips on the internet won't fully convey the intricate details and the design excellence of this gaming machine. Some details exceed expectations, while others may fall short, but you have to experience it to truly appreciate it all.
The first aspect that falls slightly below expectations with the PS5 is perhaps the color of the two ABS plastic panels covering the machine's side. These panels conceal the ventilation holes and cooling fan inside the black plastic chassis frame, which serves as the skeleton of this gaming beast. One might assume these panels would be crafted in an ivory white, appearing bright and elegant. However, upon closer inspection, these plastic panels have a slightly greenish tint to their white hue. The thickness is just right, enough to cover the sides of the machine securely, yet thin enough for users to easily customize and replace them in the future, especially when Sony releases custom panels catering to different gaming styles and themes.
On the backside, alongside two high-speed USB 3.2 Type-A ports, arranged from top to bottom, you'll find the Ethernet port for network connectivity, HDMI 2.1 port, and the C8 power cable input. The entire cluster of connection ports on the rear of the PS5 is neatly organized, making room for the system's heat dissipation vents. These vents are notably large, revealing both the heatsink system and substantial copper pipes that Sony has equipped to cool the two AMD chips and other powerful hardware inside. Positioned above, near the PS logo on the side panel, there's also a Kensington lock slot, catering to retail stores or entertainment venues aiming to secure the console against potential theft or tampering.
Speaking of the cooling system, removing the two plastic side panels unveils an easy process. If you've watched Sony's engineer dissecting the PS5 in a teardown video, you'll know how to do it: gently lift the corner of the plastic panel at the top of the console and then lightly push downwards. Both plastic panels will pop off, exposing the cooling system as well as the NVMe SSD expansion slot, whose support for storage upgrade Sony is yet to announce in a future update for game storage expansion:
There's a small yet noteworthy feature on the front face of the PS5 after removing its mask—the vent for using a handheld vacuum cleaner to clear out dust accumulated within the heatsink after extended use, all without having to dismantle the entire cooling system of the console.
To dismantle the entire cooling system, we need to peel off the warranty sticker, as shown in the image above, located above the cooling fan. Unfortunately, this means sacrificing the warranty. Sony's design of the dust intake is commendable, though its effectiveness will only be evident after about a year, or in dust-prone areas like mine where it's noticeable within three months. What stands out is that this dust intake leads directly to the heatsink, revealing the shiny copper pipes inside:
On the rear side, to the left of the UltraHD BluRay drive, is the slot for an NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD upgrade. Sony considers consumer convenience by providing an expandable port like this, supporting any PCIe 4.0 SSD for expanding the memory beyond the default 825GB without being tied to a specific brand. Unlike the Xbox Series X, there's no pressure on users to upgrade with a product-specific SSD. With the application of Oodle Kraken data compression technology, PS5 games are inherently lightweight. I installed 5-6 PS5 games and still had over 2/3 of the storage capacity available. The SSD expansion slot is secured by a metal cover with four distinct triangular characters, O, X, square, and, of course, inside, there are screws to firmly attach the accompanying SSD, sparing users the hassle of finding additional screws:
The PS5 SSD expansion slot supports all 5 common NVMe sizes: 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, and 22110. The number 22 represents the width of the SSD, while the two or three digits following indicate the length along the vertical axis of the drive:
Finally, worth noting and standing out above all is perhaps the pedestal of the PS5. As mentioned before, Sony has ingeniously designed this pedestal.
When rotating the pedestal to switch from horizontal to vertical positioning, the fixed screw on the pedestal will be exposed, and the hook of the stand will clip onto the ventilation plastic frame behind the console. On the PS5, there is a plastic piece covering the screw hole to prevent dust. When screwing in, you'll have to remove this plastic piece, but don't worry about it falling anywhere, because inside the stand, right next to the screw location, there is a small hole perfectly fitting that plastic piece:
When wanting to place the console horizontally, rotate the hook 90 degrees to hide the screw gap, then attach the stand hook to the positions marked with significant symbols matching the distance of the two hooks that Sony designed on the bottom cover of the PS5. Placing it in the correct position of this symbol line, the curves on the pedestal will align perfectly with the flowing lines of the plastic casing, securing the console completely:
The PS5, focusing on its industrial design, stands out as an excellent product. The form factor perfectly caters to the cooling needs of the device. However, aesthetically, this gaming machine is bound to spark debates within the community. From the peculiarly curved plastic panels to the seemingly 'extra' section protruding from the top of the machine, extending beyond the main rounded chassis corner, there are many details that genuinely raise questions. Is this truly Sony's product design?One thing is certain, the PS5's appearance demands users to place it at the center of their entertainment system, rather than tucked away in a corner like the Xbox or PS4, as it truly stands out.The DualSense Controller
Embarking on the saga of 'a hundred seeings not equal to one touch', without laying hands on the DualSense, it's easy to liken it to the DualShock 4 or Xbox Series X controller. Sony cleverly acknowledges this by generously bundling the delightful Astro's Playroom game, a free-of-charge companion to the platform. It serves as an excellent demo showcasing three technologies: first, the lightning-fast SSD of the PS5; second, the haptic feedback; and third, the adaptive trigger.
The sensation of diving into a game screen, instantly arriving at the destination, and seamlessly continuing without waiting for the graphics data of a new level to load is the clearest depiction of the power of the SSD inside the PS5. Next up is the Haptic Feedback. Paired with the integrated speaker in the controller, every step, jump, and action of Astro the robot in the game resonates vividly to players. Each running step is felt, not just the explosive moments; the controller doesn't just vibrate wildly as before.
What sets Astro's Playroom apart at this moment is that even the current PS5 exclusive games haven't fully implemented the adaptive trigger and haptic feedback features on the DualSense controller to their fullest potential, unlike this free-to-play gem. However, with Control Ultimate Edition, the game studio Remedy has gone all out to leverage these two features. As a result, the character Jesse Faden's movements and the act of tightening the gun's grip in the game are vividly and distinctly portrayed, a stark contrast to the PS4 version.
Just like its predecessor, the DualSense still features a touchpad. What caught my eye is the LED strip elegantly conveying player and game information. Unlike before, it's not hidden on top of the controller, near the Micro USB charging port. This time, the LED strip runs around the touchpad, providing a visually pleasing display. In the image below, you can also spot the USB-C port for connecting the DualSense to the console for charging or to use the controller with a PC:
Sony has integrated a microphone into the DualSense controller, accompanied by a built-in speaker. Unlike the previous model with a small speaker, some games make excellent use of this feature, such as police radio chatter in Need For Speed Payback. With the microphone, players can engage in online gaming and communicate with teammates without the need for an additional headset with a microphone. This microphone even comes with a mute button to avoid disturbing others or preventing household sounds from leaking into your online gaming experience. And for those who still prefer a headset, the DualSense includes a 3.5mm port beneath the microphone for the accessories players may desire:
Naturally, the textured pattern on the back of the controller retains the iconic 4 symbols of PlayStation. These subtle symbols are quite small, making them challenging to see clearly. It's a minor issue as they are tiny and tend to attract dirt, making cleaning a bit challenging. In about a month, I'll attempt to clean the controller using cotton swabs and alcohol to see how it fares:
In retrospect, if the PS5 itself is a beast in terms of performance and configuration compared to the previous PS4, even when comparing it to the PS4 Pro, the DualSense is the pair of hands and fingers that connect gamers to the virtual world with stunning visuals on the TV screen. Only by hands-on experience can one truly appreciate Sony's dedication in researching this new piece of gaming tech.Some key highlights for those diving into the PS5 experience
Firstly, don't hesitate to install the PS App from the App Store and Play Store. It comes with very useful features to enhance gaming enjoyment. Firstly, it allows you to command your PS4 or PS5 to download games with just a touch from your smartphone. Secondly, you can chat with friends. Thirdly, you can buy games directly on this app. And for those who've just acquired a PS5, logging into the PlayStation Network account is now as easy as scanning a QR Code. No more typing in usernames and passwords. Sony designed this app as an 'all-in-one' solution, very convenient. I mainly use it for snagging discounted games on the PS4. You can download the PS App here:Discover the wonders of iOS gaming with the PlayStation app. Download it here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/playstation-app/id410896080Dive into the world of Android gaming using the PlayStation app. Get it on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scee.psxandroid&hl=en&gl=US
Ready for an epic gaming experience? Connect your PS4 and PS5 on the same WiFi network. Go to Settings > System > System Software > Data Transfer > Continue. Press the power button on your PS4 for 1 second when prompted on the PS5 screen. Select your favorite games and, most importantly, transfer your save game files to keep the adventure alive. Enjoy your favorite titles, sometimes with upgraded graphics quality like God of War or Ghost of Tsushima playing on PS5 at 60 FPS without starting over.
An alternative approach involves using an Ethernet cable to directly connect your PS4 and PS5. This method proves useful, and Sony has already addressed the PS5 bricking issue when backing up games using this solution, so there's no need to worry, folks.Thirdly, if you happen to have an external hard drive with a capacity exceeding 250GB, utilize it to install PS4 games instead of relying on the PS5's SSD storage. Through experimentation, the loading speed of PS5 games, in some cases, isn't significantly different from that of the PS4 Pro's HDD. While certain games benefit greatly from an SSD, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, cutting the game loading time in half, others, like The Last of Us Part 2, show minimal improvement.
Currently, I'm using the WD Black Game Drive P50 500GB to install PS4 games for play on the PS5. I'll provide a detailed review of this gaming accessory soon. In summary, avoid squandering the storage resources of the PS5 for playing backward-compatible games. Whether it's an HDD or SSD connected via USB, the PS5 recognizes and performs well with it. In the Settings section, select 'Always Install PS4 Games to Extended Storage' to automatically transfer PS4 games to the external hard drive:
Finally, if you happen to have a PlayStation Plus account, make sure to grab all the titles from the PlayStation Plus Collection for some entertainment before the exclusive PS5 games drop. The collection includes gems like Battlefield 1, Persona 5, Resident Evil VII, Uncharted 4, and of course, the 2018 edition of God of War. Don't miss out, folks!
