Visually a flop, top performance: The best thing about the PS5 is not the console

The battle of the consoles is now finally on: Sony is sending its gaming colossus into the race with the Playstation 5 and promising breathtaking frame rates in the finest 4K resolution. The real star on the gamer horizon is the new PS5 controller.

A few days after Microsoft launched its two Xbox models, Sony is following suit. The new Playstation 5 should conquer the hearts of gamers. While the big competitors differ only in small details in terms of performance, Sony offers a new feature that takes the video gaming experience to a new level – and surprisingly, you can't see it, but feel it.

The PS5 is significantly larger than its predecessor – 39 cm high, 10.4 cm wide and 26 cm deep, provided the console is set up on end. To put the device sideways, there is an extra foot that can be attached under one of the two large side surfaces. However, the enormous size ensures that the PS5 is not necessarily a discreet living room utensil.

And the design also belongs to the eye-catching category. A glossy black body forms the heart of the PS5. The illuminated fan slots are covered by two large, slightly curved side panels. The black and white color combination is not an eye-catcher for everyone, but Sony has already announced other color variants. The 500 euro variant gets an asymmetrical look due to the drive, the 100 euro cheaper digital variant looks a bit more consistent.

SSD is a strength and a weakness at the same time

The disadvantage of the design is partly the processing. With a view to the stable PS4, the successor with significantly more plastic elements is more of a step backwards. Both the side plates and the foot look rather cheap. In addition, the design of the console is not exactly space-saving. In this regard, the Xbox models and their cuboid shape are better off. But what counts are the inner values ​​- and the PS5 has a lot to offer.

*Data protection

The built-in SSD storage disk promises high speed. More than five gigabytes are read in one second. That means significantly shorter loading times. With the release title "Spider-Man: Miles Morales", it takes less than a minute from starting the console to actively playing. Unfortunately, the lightning-fast SSD is also a weakness of the PS5. Because of the advertised 825 GB hard disk space, only 667 GB can be used. The rest is reserved for system updates.

The storage space can be expanded externally, in contrast to Microsoft with commercially available SSD cards. However, Sony plans to only allow certified storage media, and that won't be the case when the console is released.

In the new Spider-Man game, the differences in performance in the frame rates can also be clearly seen. The game offers both a performance mode in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) and a mode at 30 fps with higher image quality. The increased image quality is created by a higher level of detail and lighting effects. With a totally dynamic and action-packed title like Spider-Man, the 60 fps are worth it. The game just seems smoother and more dynamic. A doubling of the frame rate to 120 fps should be possible in the future for certain PS5 games.

Classic PS4 titles should also be backward compatible without any problems and benefit from the high frame rates. Sony speaks of more than 4000 titles.

Astro lets the new controller shine

The hardware highlight, however, is not the console, but the new DualsSense controller. In terms of design, there are few differences to the PS4's DualShock. The PS5 controller is significantly heavier and a bit more handy. The battery lasts between five and six hours when fully charged, so you have to charge it regularly via the USB-C port.

The big surprise is inside. With "Astro's Playroom" Sony has developed a little jump-and-run especially for the controller presentation, which is supposed to introduce the new functions. The DualSense controller is equipped with new adaptive button triggers that offer physical resistance as required. So when the mini robot Astro draws a bow, the L2 button is much more difficult to press.

At the same time, the controller offers haptic feedback in the form of more subtle vibrations. If Astro is walking over sand, it feels that way too, when it rains you can feel the crackling drops. The controller gives the player an even better feeling for what is happening in the game.

Visually, the PS5 should clearly signal a major change – the next generation. In terms of frame rate, resolution and speed, the console is on par with competitor Microsoft. With the DualSense controller on the PS5, Sony has achieved a minor coup – you can literally feel the next generation with your hands.