The Current Climate
Now isn't the best time to buy a PS5, so know what you're in for first.
There's arguably never been a worse time to be a PlayStation fan or buy a PS5, with systems more than half a decade old costing more now than they did at release. RAM shortages are impacting tech hardware worldwide, and Sony faces criticism over its hardware pricing and product direction.
While both the PS5 and upgraded PS5 Pro are capable gaming systems, neither represents decent value for money right now, especially given the lack of concrete details regarding a PlayStation 6 release.
PlayStation's discless future is shifting away from physical media support
Sony is gradually moving away from disc-based games and hardware. Industry reports indicate that future console iterations will rely entirely on digital distribution.
This transition ends the PlayStation's long-standing legacy as an affordable media hub. Past generations gained immense popularity thanks to built-in DVD and Blu-ray playback capabilities that offered great value alongside gaming.
As physical media declines, consumers lose traditional benefits such as loaning games to friends, trading physical disks, and taking advantage of brick-and-mortar retail sales.
Even players who primarily buy digital games often express concern over the complete phase-out of physical alternatives, as it eliminates consumer choice in how software is owned and accessed.
No version of the PS5 is cheap
Unlike past generations where consoles became cheaper over time, current models are significantly more expensive than at launch due to extreme memory and SSD component shortages.
When the original disc-drive PlayStation 5 and digital edition launched in 2020 at $499 and $399 respectively, their prices aligned with historical hardware rollouts.
Current retail pricing sits notably higher, making the hardware considerably more expensive than it was at launch. Storage configurations also vary depending on the specific slim or standard revision chosen.
The PS5 Pro launched at a higher baseline cost, and high demand alongside supply constraints has led to availability issues and inflated pricing across secondary markets.
The PS5 Pro is powerful, but its CPU holds it back
The PlayStation 5 Pro delivers impressive graphical performance, but certain internal hardware specifications prevent it from matching high-end gaming PC capabilities.
On the processing side, the PS5 Pro features a modest CPU upgrade utilizing AMD Zen 2 architecture with a slight clock speed increase over the standard model, resulting in a minor real-world processing boost.
Conversely, the GPU sees a much more substantial improvement, offering higher compute units and floating-point performance to enhance visual fidelity and rendering capabilities.
Advanced upscaling technologies improve image quality significantly on the Pro, though software updates bringing similar upscaling features to the base console narrow the feature gap between the two systems.
The PS5 is arguably the ugliest console Sony has ever made
The physical dimensions and asymmetrical aesthetic of the console make it difficult to integrate into standard living room furniture and home entertainment setups.
Whether positioned vertically or horizontally, the console's distinct curves and jutting panels present placement challenges for users with limited space or specific interior design preferences.
While slim and digital editions offer slightly more uniform profiles, the overall hardware design remains a frequent point of criticism among consumers.
